Obituary

Jana Lund, 52

Our beautiful mother, wife, and friend Jana Lund returned to her Heavenly Father unexpectedly on September 30, 2024 due to natural causes.

Jana was born to Samuel and JoAnne Belk on October 14, 1971, the youngest of 7 siblings. She had fond memories of feeding baby calves and trips to visit family in North Carolina. She was her dad’s fishing buddy when her brothers all grew up. She graduated from Snake River High School in 1989. She always loved to read, learn, and imagine.

She met Bruce at an after game dance and a beautiful friendship began. When Bruce served his mission Jana faithfully wrote him for two years and was delighted to become his bride on his return. They were sealed for time and all eternity on April 28, 1990 in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Jana and Bruce raised 7 children, 3 daughters and 4 sons. Jana was a wonderful mother, despite struggling to believe it of herself. She had an amazing imagination and could make up games and stories for hours. Jana read the Book of Mormon to her children every single morning before school and chapters of the best books to them every night before bed. Most of the kids remember this continuing even through their high school years. Jana loved reading and had a vast library. She loved to find her favorite books at used sales and gift them to her favorite people. She also had a thirst for knowledge and an unbelievably sharp memory.

Jana enjoyed having many animals, over the years she helped raise and care for goats, pigs, sheep, many chickens and ducks, rabbits, llamas, and a miniature pony. Jana was known to tuck struggling baby animals in her shirt to keep them warm and safe. Her tender heart sought to care for and protect anyone struggling, person or animal.

After most of her children were teens Jana worked diligently to complete her Bachelors degree online through Brigham Young University-Idaho. She went to work and held positions with Headstart, Longmore Cardiac Clinic, and most recently with Blackfoot Medical clinic. Each of these jobs were intimidating for her to start but Jana quickly made friends wherever she went.

Jana was an artist. She carefully and lovingly crafted beautiful creations for her loved ones. Christmas jammies for her kids were one of a kind. They also enjoyed custom made Halloween costumes. The quilts she gifted were made with hours and hours of thought and deliberation, love expressed in each detail down to the last piece of fabric. Her creations were always rich with personal symbolism and detail.

Jana was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served nearly thirty years in the nursery and Sunbeam primary classes. Jana loved teaching children and sharing the love that Jesus Christ has for them. She loved each of her sweet primary kids, even the ones she referred to as “wild yahoos.” Jana loved to attend the temple with Bruce. The building of the Pocatello temple was an absolute joy to her, especially as the temple is visible from the front porch? She was also interested and active in genealogy, even before it became widely accessible online.

Jana lived her whole life in Pingree, aside from a few years in Rexburg for college. She loved this area, the wide open space and the people. She was the best at noticing the beautiful things God has placed on earth. Jana had a deep love for animals. She loved to call her kids to tell them about the swans, geese, cranes, or other wild life she had seen. Her dogs were also very dear to her heart, but she had love for every little dog she caught sight of. When walking or driving with her there were frequent interruptions to point out cute dogs or pregnant ladies.

Jana almost always had a smile on her face in public. She sought to set others at ease and make them feel welcome and loved. Jana battled dark depression and anxiety throughout her lifetime, but set an example of faithful endurance for all who knew her.

Jana is survived by her spouse, Bruce Lund, children Erica Penrod (Daniel), Adam Lund, Madeline Lund, Joshua Lund, Katherine Lund, Isaac Lund, and Joseph (Chandra) Lund, and grandchildren Addy, Hannah, Lincoln, Lucy, and Violet. She was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and JoAnne Belk and her granddaughter Maren Penrod.

We will feel deeply the loss of our bright and beautiful mother and wife, but we rest in the sure testimony she left of the eternal nature of families. One of her favorite messages to share with her children was that it will all be ok in the end, if it’s not ok it’s not the end.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October4, 2024 at the Pingree Ward LDS Church. The family will meet with friends from 6-8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the Hawker Funeral Home, and again for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow in the Moreland Cemetery.

To honor the light and joy that our relationship with Jana brought to our lives, we invite anyone attending the funeral to wear her favorite color blue, or another happy and cheerful color.