Janet Christensen Clark

Janet Christensen Clark, 77, of Frisco, Texas, formerly of Rigby, Idaho, passed away June 9, 2010, at Centennial Medical Center in Frisco, Texas, from a brain aneurysm. Janet was born at the family home on the 26th of March, 1933 in Vernal, Utah, to Leon Peter and Mazie Smith Christensen. She was born just minutes after her twin sister JoAnne. The doctor, never having delivered twins, broke into song and dance along with the midwife. Janet spent her early years in Vernal, Utah. When she was 6, the family moved to the family farm in Maeser, Utah. She graduated with honors from Uintah High School. She attended Utah State Agricultural College and graduated with honors in secondary education with an emphasis on home economics. After graduation, she taught at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. On July 24, 1956, Janet married Raoel H Clark in her parent’s front room in Maeser, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Idaho LDS Temple on October 11, 1962. They made their home in the Shelton and Rigby areas. She taught home economics at Rigby High School until 1970. Janet always enjoyed meeting her former students and was always thrilled when her own children were taught by her students. Janet efficiently used her education in raising seven children, making sure that each was proficient and capable in the domestic arts. Always learning, education was very important to her, and this attitude was passed on to her children, all of whom graduated from college with engineering and science degrees. Always teaching by example, she completed a Master’s Degree in Home Economics from Idaho State University. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served in many capacities in the Primary and Relief Society organizations, always faithfully serving whether as a teacher, counselor, or president. She and her husband served an LDS mission to the Tallahassee Florida Mission spending most of their time in Eufaula, Alabama. In 2006, Janet and Raoel moved to Frisco, Texas, where the altitude was low enough that she did not have to use supplemental oxygen. They lived there until the time of her death. Janet loved to read. She always had a large garden and enjoyed cultivating plants and flowers found there. Gardening and flowers were some of her hobbies, but her greatest joys were her home, family, and later, grandchildren. Janet was a kind, loving, supportive wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband, Raoel H Clark; her children, Gregory R (Cheryl) Clark of Omaha, Nebraska; Michael L. (Diana) Clark of Rigby, Idaho; Ross M. (Janet) Clark of Syracuse, Utah; Lt. Col. Jan L. (Matthew) Malaikal of Northville, Michigan; Connie S. (Steve) Hurst of Frisco, Texas; Mark H. (Jennifer) Clark of Santa Clara, California; and Hugh Q. (Verma) Clark of Bountiful, Utah; 28 grandchildren; siblings, JoAnne (M.K.) Smith of Bountiful, Utah; and Grant (Vaola) Christensen of Boise, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Boyd and David Christensen, and a granddaughter Karenna Malaikal. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at the Rigby Third Ward building 364 N. 4100 E. in Rigby, Idaho, with Bishop Calvin B. McOmber officiating. The family will visit with friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Eckersell Funeral Home, 101 W Main St. in Rigby, and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Interment will be at the Annis Little Butte Cemetery.