Janice Kay Larson

Janice Kay Whiting Larson passed away peacefully at home the morning of Christmas Eve, 2025 at the age of 88, after a valiant battle against dementia. 

She was born November 23rd, 1937 in Pocatello, Idaho to Archie Jay Whiting and Reva Williams Whiting. The oldest of five children, Janice had the experience of living in many places during her younger years - Texas, Wyoming, and Idaho. But her life changed dramatically and forever when she moved with her family to Salmon, Idaho in 1954. It was there she met her high school sweetheart and eternal companion. Soon after high school graduation, Janice married Willard “Bill” Larson on August 3rd, 1956 for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The couple soon moved to Pocatello, where they made their home and started a family. In 1970, Janice and Bill bought an 80-acre farm in Springfield where they raised their children over the following 21 years, before returning to Pocatello. During a two year hiatus from farming, from 1979 to 1981, Mom worked at the University of Idaho cafeteria in Moscow to put Bill through chemical engineering school. In 1987, at age 49, Janice began her college education at Idaho State University. She graduated four years later with high honors as an elementary school teacher. For several years she taught at both Wilcox and Tendoy elementary schools in Pocatello, a brief but fulfilling career that she cherished.

In 1997, Janice and Bill retired and served an 18-month humanitarian mission for the Church in Hazard, Kentucky. Upon their return, the two built their dream home on an acreage west of Pocatello, where they spent their active retirement years serving others, enjoying family and friends, and traveling. After losing Dad in 2022, Janice spent her last three years living in the care of her children as she battled dementia.

Janice enjoyed many passions. Even with just a handful of ingredients, Mom was able to feed a delicious meal to a multitude. She loved to cook, especially for others. Gardening and canning was an annual ritual that she enjoyed. It was rare that Mom wasn’t in the middle of crocheting, knitting, needle pointing, sewing, or quilting a project – usually for a child, grandchild, sibling, or a dear friend. She loved to create beautiful things with her hands. Proud of her own parents’ affinity for music, Mom learned to play the fiddle and helped her own children appreciate the value of music as well. Mom’s talents always seemed to contain an element of service and bringing joy to others. She loved deeply, and unconditionally. 

Janice loved her Savior, and held numerous church callings, always serving, loving, teaching, and ministering to others. To have known Mom is to love her, and she will be missed by so many.

Janice is survived by four of her children, Vicki (Kent) Hobbs of Pocatello, Lyle Larson of Pocatello, Amy (Daniel) Clark of Osgood, and Neal (Esther) Larson of Idaho Falls; sisters, Lavonne (Kenneth) Larson of Philomath, Oregon; Denece (David) Little of Wellsville, Utah; Belva (Ronald) Poulsen of Rigby, Idaho; 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. 

Janice is preceded in death by her husband, Willard; parents, Arch and Reva Whiting; sons, Cliff, Kent, and Steve; and her brother, Ronnie Whiting

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4010 Hawthorne Road, Pocatello, ID. Viewings will be from 5:00 - 7:00 pm on Monday, December 29 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck ID, and at 9:30 am on Tuesday at the church. Burial will follow the service at the Springfield-Sterling Cemetery in Springfield, Idaho.

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