Janet Lavon Roth (nee Schonewill) passed away quietly on Friday, Feb. 15, after over five years in the darkness of dementia at Homeplace in Oak Harbor.

She was born Dec. 6, 1933, in Midland, S.D., the youngest of six children. In 1936, her family moved to join relatives in the Yakima/Moxee area. She then moved to Blaine for her early school years.

They returned to Yakima, where Janet attended Washington Junior High and Yakima Senior High, graduating in 1951. She remained in Yakima until her marriage to Donald L Roth, on Aug. 3, 1952, in the then-new Central Lutheran Church. She spent the first two years of marriage in Port Angeles, then on to Pullman for four years at WSC as housewife/mother.

After graduation in 1958, they moved to Livermore, Calif. with their two children. In 1966, now having four children, she moved again, to Bellevue, Wash., until 1974, and another move to Los Alamos, N.M.

Taking early retirement in 1988, including one year in Germantown, Md., they returned to Washington residing on Whidbey Island, east of Coupeville. A new and more permanent home was built and had been home for 31 years.

Janet was active in her church through confirmation, catechism, Luther League and Bible study. Also active in a philanthropic sorority (ESA) with chapters in Livermore, Bellevue and Los Alamos.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Alma Schonewill; brothers Roy and Charles; sisters Dorthy, Thelma and Ruby; and Janet’s first child, Barbara Ann Roth.

She is survived by son David (Sandy) and granddaughter Sara of Escondido Calif.; grandson Donald (Erica) with great granddaughters Piper and Bridget and great grandson Liam of Orange City, Iowa; daughter Kathleen Jo (Jeff) Nelson of American Falls, Idaho; grandson Jason (Mandy) Nelson, with great grandson Kyle and great granddaughter Jenna of Pocatello, Idaho; granddaughter Amy (Fermin) Reyes, with great granddaughters Ashanti and Maria Athena of Escondido, Calif.; son Steven (Jessica Rea) of Olympia; and granddaughter Stephanie (Brody) Fairhall of Sydney, Australia.

Janet’s comfort and understanding care during these last years was entirely due to the caregivers at Homeplace in Oak Harbor and over the final weeks the staff of Whidbey Health Hospice.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 1 p.m., at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville.