Janet Sue (Newkirk) Ingalls entered the presence of her Lord and Savior on the morning
of October 12th, 2024 at the age of 85. She passed away at Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice
House with her loved ones present.
Janet was born on December 3rd, 1938, in Bedford, Indiana to Wilbur and Vada Maxine
(Wood) Newkirk where she spent her early childhood with her five siblings.
Eventually their family moved to the Yakima Valley area in Washington state. Life was
difficult for such a large family and Janet and her siblings would often help the family make ends
meet by working in the fields before and after school. Even at a young age her incredible
strength and resilience helped her overcome many obstacles that life threw her way.
Janet moved in with another family prior to graduating from high school. She helped with
housework and childcare in exchange for room and board. Upon completion of High School,
Janet started working for St. Elizabeth Medical Center as a candy striper (nurse’s aide). She
loved helping others and this line of work brought so much happiness and joy to her life.
In 1958, Janet met and married the love of her life, William Ingalls of 47 years. They
started a family and after a few years in the Yakima Valley they moved to Diamond/Crater Lake
Jct. in Oregon. They purchased some property and William built a gas station and restaurant.
Janet helped run the business while taking care of their four children. She was a dedicated
homemaker and her days were full of canning, cooking and sewing clothes for each of her
children. She found joy in baking bread, and her cinnamon rolls, a cherished treat, brought
warmth and delight to the family. She was never one to be idle and would be busy from sun up
to sun down.
In 1977 they sold the business and moved to the Tri-Cities in Washington State. After a
period of time, Janet began to work at Highland’s Health Food Store. She continued to work
there until 2021 before retiring at the age of 82. She was devoted to her work and during that
time held down many different roles within the company: sales, stocking and office clerk. Her
incredible work ethic was an inspiration to her children.
Janet was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was an
exceptional cook who found joy in preparing meals for her family. Her garlic chicken and
barbecued meatballs were delicious and highly requested by the family. She lovingly cared for
her grandchildren, and later on, her great grandchildren. She instilled values of kindness,
respect and integrity. Her great grandchildren brought immense joy in her life and she spent
countless hours putting together puzzles, reading books, taking walks and caring for them. She
lovingly started their days with their favorite breakfast of pancakes. She put her family first and
they received her unwavering love, guidance and support. They were the most important thing
to her and she cared for each and every one like they were a precious gift. She was the heart
and soul of her family.
At the age of 13, Jan accepted God’s gift of salvation. With grieving hearts, her family
rejoices that her pain and suffering are gone and she is now in God’s care. She has left them
with an overwhelming treasure of memories and a legacy to pattern their lives after.
Jan is preceded in death by her beloved husband, William, daughter Sandra, and
grandbaby Joy Arlene, her parents Wilbur and Vada, siblings: Billy, James, Donald, Joan and
Loretta. She is survived by her children: Penny, Sonya (husband Alan), Robert, Wayne
(son-n-law), grandchildren: Lacy, Joshua, Dalton, Savanna and great grandchildren: Estaeja
and Major.