Joan Atkinson Dutson

Joan Atkinson Dutson was born at home in Logan, Utah on April 4, 1932 with lots of dark hair and a darling smile to Alfred Virgil and Oneita Christina Kelson. Born the middle child, she adored and was adored by her older brother, Blaine, and her little sister, Sharon (Brinker). Joan (pronounced, ‘Jo-un’ thanks to her dad serving a mission in England) grew up a Cache Valley native and a small town girl. In her toddler years, they moved to Richmond, where her dad owned the barber shop and the family lived upstairs. Joan was the president of her 8th grade class and demonstrated a love for reading and the written word early in life. The summer of her 9th grade year and the start of high school at South Cache, her family moved to Hyrum to start a new barber shop. Her creative side showed as she enjoyed modern dance and ran campaigns and wrote skits to help her friends be elected into office. She was an integral part of high school and worked in the high school office and bookstore. She was known as “At’s little sister”(her brother’s nickname), something she loved to be known by. Graduating high school a year early in 1949, she attended USU and then she worked at the General Depot in Ogden as a secretary.
Joan met her forever sweetheart in high school, but it wasn’t until January of 1953 that they would go on their first date and that would lead to a moment in the lobby of the Hotel Utah where she saw him enter the lobby and the spirit came over her saying, “He is your eternal companion.” They were married for time and all eternity on October 1, 1953 in the LDS Logan temple. Fall was always her favorite season, and rightly so. Two months into their newlywed life, her sweetheart was called on an LDS mission to Sweden for two-and-a-half years. When Lellon asked who would support him on such an endeavor, Joan, true to her nature said, “I will.” And she did. Upon completing his mission, Joan boarded a cruise ship to Sweden to pick him up and then they went to France to see Blaine and Margaret and tour a bit of Europe. Upon returning home, they purchased their first and only home in Hyrum, Utah with Lellon’s GI bill, a home they loved and lived in for 60+ years. Joan and Lellon both enrolled in USU and while Joan worked and went to school, Lellon went full-time. She almost graduated with a bachelors while she helped Lellon graduate with a bachelors and a masters in four-years…all with three young sons. We say she graduated twice with honors! In those early years of marriage and school, she also had several callings such as the Primary president, Relief Society secretary and she wrote Roadshows - one roadshow that won at the Stake level, and filling in as a pianist when needed. In her favorite role, Joan was blessed to be a mother of six children, four boys and two girls: Shaun Lellon, Kendell Stuart, Tyler Blaine (Kim), Christene Joan (Kelly), Anthony Virgil (Katrina), and Roseann. All of them wanted, all of them loved. She made a home for cousins who visited in the summer, a student in the Indian Placement program, Alonzo Nez, and Laurels (her girls) in Young Women’s. When the children were into their school years, she started work at LDS Social Services as an executive secretary for 12-years.
After retirement, Joan and Lellon served a Family History Mission to Many Farms, Arizona. She is proud to say she raised four Eagle Scouts and two Young Womanhood medallions. Her custom touch was in everything she did. From cooking to sewing to writing to gardening, she loved creating and learning. Her culinary skills were unbeatable and if she was cooking, everybody was cooking. She loved to try new recipes and decipher what the chefs were making. The holidays were important to her and her home was filled at every holiday with delicious treats and festive decorations. We spent many summers camping and even our little trailer had custom curtains and pillows. Her love of literature and poetry was something she tried to instill at any moment, including reading Edgar Allen Poe during pumpkin carving or Emily Dickinson at family gatherings. She was a gifted writer and editor, something her husband and children benefited from throughout their lives. She believed every child should have a pet, so our home always had four-legged companions. Skilled in the home arts, she sewed, knitted, crocheted and shared that knowledge with anyone willing to learn. A multi-faceted woman, she had a deep testimony of her Savior Jesus-Christ and loved her family fiercely. Blessed with grandchildren and great grandchildren, Grandma Jo is dearly loved! At the end of her life, she missed her sweetheart Lellon so much. With deep sadness mixed with great joy, her family releases her into the arms of her sweetheart until we meet again. Joan is preceded in death by her sweetheart, Lellon; her brother, Blaine; sister-in-law Margaret; two infant sisters, Gwen and Janine; her parents and brother-in-law, Charles Brinker.
The family would like to thank Dr. Steven Salisbury for his kindness and care of our mom over the years along with our dedicated nurse, aide and staff through CNS. Thank you is not enough.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday December 3, 2016 at 11:00am at the Hyrum LDS Chapel, 455 East 100 South, Hyrum. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6-8pm at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center, Logan and at the ward chapel on Saturday morning from 10-11am. Interment will be in the Hyrum City Cemetery. Those attending are encouraged to wear the color orange as it was her favorite color.
Condolences and memories may be shared online by visiting www.allenmortuaries.net