Janice Force DeMille April 20, 1946 ~ February 27, 2024

Janice Force was born April 20, 1946 in St. George, UT, to Clarence and Eva Snyder Force. Her early life found her helping her parents, playing below the red cliffs, and spending time with her grandmothers, who passed on a love of pioneer heritage arts and family history.
As a young child, Janice loved and nurtured her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Janice participated in local community and church fairs, performances, and youth groups. In 4-H, she shared the skills she learned from her grandmothers, and won a trip to the Utah State Capitol and Washington D.C.
Janice loved school and her teachers. She pursued her talents by attending Dixie College, where she met and fell in love with Van Allen DeMille.
In Van, Janice found her heart’s desire, the person who filled her heart and helped her fulfill her goal of marriage in the temple, and a family raised with the Gospel. On July 8, 1966, Van and Janice were married in the St. George Temple.
Two weeks later Van was shipped out to Vietnam and Janice found herself living the life of a war bride. Her studies kept her occupied during a year of fear and worry. When he returned home they went together to Savannah, GA to finish out his two year draft.
They attended Southern Utah State College, now Southern Utah University and graduated with degrees in education. They moved to Van’s hometown of Hurricane, UT, where Van taught 3rd and 4th grade. Janice was a full-time homemaker and later taught English at Hurricane High School, along with theater, debate, and English at Dixie College.The blessing that Janice was most grateful for arrived with her three sons. Oliver, Alma, and William. She and Van created a home where they could pass along a love of learning, a love of heritage, and a love for the Savior.
Janice founded Homestead Publishers in 1970 and published six books of her own. She wrote columns for the St. George Spectrum and Daily News and and published a magazine, Desert Tapestry.
The highlights of her efforts as a writer and publisher were the magnificent history books she authored: The St. George Temple: First 100 Years, and Portraits of the Hurricane Pioneers.
Another cherished experience was working with Gracia Jones to publish Emma’s Glory and Sacrifice.
Janice was injured in a car accident and a brain hemorrhage led to emergency surgery, a spiritual experience that strengthened her love for her Savior, and a life of ongoing pain but patient endurance and increased love for family.
Janice loved being a grandma. She was never quite as happy as when she had a grandbaby in her arms or a grandchild working on a project with her. Each grandchild has stories of learning at her feet and how to pray for comfort, hope, and understanding.
Janice was a living example of the words of Isaiah and how the Lord will “give unto them beauty for ashes.” She endured tremendous physical pain after her accident and surgery, but maintained her faith, her love for God and family, and held onto all of us in hope.
How hard it is for us to let her go, but how grateful we all are for the faith in Christ that she shared with us.
Janice Force DeMille is survived by her husband Van, sons Oliver (Rachel), Alma (Heather), and William DeMille (Vernie Lynn); siblings Margaret Force (Art) Christensen, Jim Force (Krissa), Stephen Force (Miriam), Robert Force (Jane), Wanda (Brent) Case; grandchildren Oliver, Emma, Sara, Eliza, Freeborn, Hyrum, America, Abigail, Amileah, Van Dale, Anna, Elijah, Dariel, Sage, Logan, Kai, Daniel, Dillon, Ezekiel, Ephraim, Enoch, Esther; and 26 great-grandchildren, with five more on the way.
The viewing for Janice Force DeMille will be at the LDS Monticello Stake Center on March 9 at 10:30 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at noon.