Janelle Biddinger Hyatt

Janelle Biddinger Hyatt, of Smithfield, UT, our loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away in the early morning hours of August 11 th . At the time of her passing she was attended by her husband of 30 years, Rodney Hyatt, and two of her four children.
Janelle was born December 16 th , 1958, to Marshall Lloyd Biddinger and Jeane Johnston in Price, Utah at the old Carbon Hospital. She was the 5th of six children.
Jan spent her childhood with her father hiking in the desert and camping in the mountains and with her mother sewing and cooking for friends and family. Most of all, Jan loved to read and was an avid book collector, even tallying the total number of pages she’d read throughout her life in her journals.
Jan graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism. She later received her secondary education teaching certificate in Journalism and English. Jan worked hard all her life; most notably as a journalist and editor: first as a journalist for Spectrum new paper in Cedar City UT, then for the Stars and Stripes in Tokyo, Japan, Realtor’s World in Washington, D.C., and later for The Standard Examiner in Ogden, Utah for many years. Jan set aside journalism to help run the renewable energy business she shared with her husband. She continued to write, edit, and publish various articles and books along the way. Toward the end of her life, Jan worked for Utah State University for the College of Humanities as a copy writer, editor, and content editor for the college and Liberalis, a USU Magazine. Most recently she volunteered her time at Somebody’s Attic, a local non-profit thrift store that supports several causes that were important to her.
Jan married Rodney Hyatt on November 21, 1992; they were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti temple. Rod brought three children from a previous marriage, Triston, Devon, and Nicci, whom she loved and raised as her own. Jan’s biological son, Haden Rodney Hyatt, was born in 1995. Jan and Haden had an especially close relationship and spent very little time apart throughout the rest of her life. Over the years Jan and Rod hosted a number of foreign exchange students, notably Kenny Qi Wang, who became like another son. Jan loved plants and animals and rescued many dogs, cats, and even chickens; she had a particular fondness for three black shar p eis.
Janelle was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She held many church callings throughout her life and put her heart and soul into each one. Janelle was a fireball force of nature, was loved by all, and she will be dearly missed.
Janelle leaves behind her husband Rod; her children: Triston, Devon (Andrea), Nicci, and Haden; five granddaughters: Lucy, Scarlet, Jane, Pepper, and Georgie; her siblings: Rick (Nancy) Biddinger, Jerri (Miles) Brown, David (Debbie) Biddinger, and Bonnie (Louie) Frucci; as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Sue Lancaster.