Janis Dudley Nygard

Janis Dudley Nygard passed away May 31, 2025 at her home in Kaysville, Utah, surrounded by family and her kitty. She was born April 15, 1939 to John Ross Dudley, Sr. and Irva Stark Dudley in Salt Lake City. She grew up in a happy home. Her father was an attorney and her mother had been a schoolteacher. As a child, she attended Hawthorne Elementary School, and Hawthorne Ward in the Sugarhouse Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She attended South High School, graduating in 1957.

In 1961, while attending the University of Utah, she received a mission call to the Southern Far East-Taiwan Mission (Taiwan was also known as Free China at the time). While sister missionaries had been called as early as 1898 in the Church, missionary service for sisters was far less common in the 60s than it is today, and she was one of the first in Taiwan. Her two years as a missionary proved to be a most unforgettable and beautiful experience both spiritually and culturally--one that Janis cherished throughout her life.

Upon returning home in 1963, she continued her studies at the University of Utah and graduated in 1965 with a BS in elementary education. Thereupon she taught school for 2 ½ years, including one year in Honolulu, Hawaii. She forsook teaching to pursue a Master's degree in Asian history at Brigham Young University, another treasured period of growth, learning, and association with outstanding people that helped shape her life. She remained an avid reader and lifelong student.

Over the next few years, she found secretarial work in Honolulu, and later in Salt Lake City, including at the Church Offices for a short time in the Office of the Council of the Twelve.

During the fall of 1972 she married George Nygard, a German immigrant and recent widower with four children, Mike, Steven, Greg, and Lori. This was a difficult period for the Nygard's, with the family still struggling from the loss of their mother and Janis with no prior experience as wife or mother. The family is grateful to Janis for sticking to George and to them through those challenging times, and all the years since.

Throughout her life, Janis was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in many callings, including Primary President, Relief Society President, Young Women's President, various teaching positions, and Stake Speech Director. She also drove a red Mustang convertible, and loved cats.

Janis is survived by her stepchildren Mike Nygard (Deena) and Lori Pettit (Richard), ten grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Ross Dudley, Jr., husband George Nygard, stepsons Greg and Stephen Nygard, and grandson Stephen Pettit.

We will celebrate Janis' life on Friday, June 6 with a 10:00 am viewing at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 S 2300 E, Millcreek, Utah, followed by a graveside service at 11:30 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Dr, Millcreek, Utah.

The family would like to thank the Staff at Monument Health in Bountiful and Bristol Hospice for their loving care of Janis during her final days.