Janice Marian Green

Janice Marian Jensen Green passed away peacefully on April 16, 2025, in Pocatello, Idaho, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, generosity, teaching, a love for learning, and enduring friendships – Jan dearly loved all her friends and family!

Janice was born on August 21, 1953, at the Fort Ord Hospital in Monterey, California, to Keith Marlin and Marian (Amonette) Jensen while her father was stationed there during the Korean War. After his discharge, the family returned briefly to Rexburg, Idaho, where Janice developed a fond connection with her grandparents before settling in Rupert, Idaho, where her parents homesteaded a farm.

As a young girl, Janice dreamed of becoming a movie star, performing on top of alfalfa haystacks and channeling her inner Kitty from Gunsmoke. Her family later moved to Mountain Home, Idaho, where she proudly earned the title of Four-Square Champion in sixth grade. She graduated from Payette High School in 1971, where she was voted “Most Witty” and made many lifelong friends. Janice loved her life-long friends and remained close and connected with them! She always liked to say she suffered from FOMO (fear of missing out) as to why she enjoyed & loved her friends.

Janice was a great “Life Friend” and “coach” at every stop along her life-- receiving and offering advice, a listening ear, staying connected, and having fun were truly some of her gifts.

During high school, she worked in the Payette nursing home kitchen and for her father at the Shaffer-Jensen Funeral Homes (Payette, Fruitland, & New Plymouth). And, during her summers while in college, she worked at the Idaho State School Hospital in Nampa, Idaho with developmentally disabled people.

Janice pursued higher education at Ricks College (now BYU–Idaho) and later transferred to Brigham Young University, where she earned her degree in Early Childhood and Family Relations. It was while teaching preschool she discovered she wanted to be a teacher. She soon returned to BYU to earn her certification in Elementary Education—the beginning of a stellar career that meant so much to her.

She began her teaching career in the West Blackfoot Idaho area teaching fourth(4th) grade in the Snake River School District at Riverside Elementary. While teaching, she earned a Master of Education from Idaho State University and later served as the Principal at both the Riverside Elementary and the Rockford Elementary schools. Janice later moved to Pocatello and was the Principal at Gate City Elementary. She retired in 2011. After she retired, she worked for the Idaho State Department of Education for schools that could use assistance. She loved to work and serve those around her. In her career, Janice found many, many talented friends – teachers, administrators, parents, and children who she passionately wanted to see grow and develop into their very best selves!

Janice had a remarkable gift for writing grants, always seeking to enhance the learning experience for her students and finding the best way to use the funds. Among her most cherished accomplishments was to secure funding for the BEAR (Be Excited About Reading) program, which reflected her deep love for children’s literature. She was a tireless advocate for literacy and worked to make every classroom and home a “literacy-rich” environment. Her influence reached far beyond her schools, as she encouraged her nieces, nephews, and all children she met to love reading and learning.

Though she was never able to have children of her own due to her battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis, she considered all her students, nieces, nephews, and neighborhood children as “her” children.

Despite her health challenges, Janice faced each day with grace and quiet strength. She never let-on how much pain she endured, kept a daily gratitude journal, and always took pride in her appearance—especially her polished nails, jewelry, purses/handbags, and love for clothing. She was a legend with her Amazon delivery driver!

In 1989, she married Richard Green in Pocatello, Idaho. They made a wonderful home together where she remained for the rest of her life.

Janice passed away peacefully while on a brief hospice stay after enduring years of battling complications with her Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Joanne Good; brothers-in-law, Terry Marren and Jason Good; and her nephew, Tyler Jensen.

She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Green; her siblings Teresa Jensen Yamashita (Wes), Lisa Jensen DeMaiolo (Steve), and Russell Jensen (Suzanne); her beloved nieces Wren, Arian, Stephanie, Hayley, Heather, Lindsay, Katie, and Annie; her nephews Stuart, James, Ammon, Keith, Trevor, Matthew, and Spencer; and many great-nieces and nephews. She will also be deeply missed by her lifelong friends from high school and college, as well as countless colleagues and fellow educators within the community.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2925 Michelle St, Pocatello, ID 83201. Viewings will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, April 25 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck ID and prior to the service at the church on Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S 5th Avenue, Pocatello, ID.

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