Roy Middleton

With a determined will and incredible strength - both of which he possessed in spades - Albert LeRoy Middleton fiercely battled cancer. He fought to the end, which came on the evening of Saturday, October 18, 2025, when he finally joined his precious wife, Janice, and many loved ones on the other side of the veil.

He was born on August 16, 1931, in Payson, Utah, to Albert Middleton and Clarise Minnie Hueser. He was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Janice Wilson Middleton, his mother and father, his three brothers: J.R Middleton, Clyde Middleton, Bobby Middleton, and his precious granddaughter, Christy Dawn Middleton.

Roy is survived by his four children, Mark, Greg, Laura Rush and Nancy Provolt and their spouses, his eighteen grandchildren and his thirty six great grandchildren.

The viewing will be Friday, October 24, 2025 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at Russon Mortuary, 1941 N. Main Street, Farmington, UT 84025.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 25, 2025 with a viewing from 8:30am - 9:45am followed by the funeral from 10:00am - 11:30am at the LDS Chapel, 170 North Mountain Road, Fruit Heights, UT 84037. Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.

Graveside services will follow the funeral proceedings at 2:30pm at Mountain View Cemetery 1520 S. 5th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83201.

Roy was born with feistiness in his soul and a grandeur of greatness which impacted those who had the blessing to spend, even a few moments with him.

There are many infamous tales of the trouble and fun he had in his youth - from wrestling with his brothers - busting through a wall in their home, to having his eye shot out with an arrow during a rambunctious game of cowboys and indians.

Roy’s incredible strength showed up with many physical challenges throughout his life - not just losing his eye but breaking his neck, cutting his fingers off with a construction saw (plopping them in his shirt pocket and driving to the hospital to have them sewn back on). He would rebound and continue to be a force of nature.

Roy was called to serve a mission in the Uruguay/Paraguay South American mission for three and a half years. His parents were not active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and when he left his Father told him, “If you leave to serve a mission, you will never darken my door again.” Thankfully that was not the case as he remained close to his parents until their death while being an incredible example of serving the Lord. While on his mission, Roy served as a counselor to the Mission President where he first began his lifelong journey of serving and meeting many Prophets, Apostles and General Authorities.

After his mission, Roy’s brother Clyde talked him into attending school at Idaho State University where he earned a degree in Accounting with a minor in Spanish. He served as President of the Delta Phi (which was the returned missionary fraternity). One day while on the campus of ISU, Roy saw Janice walking across the courtyard, and a voice told him; ‘There she is - find out who she is.’ To this day there remains a picture of her on his nightstand in the blouse she wore when he first saw her. Roy asked Janice to a school dinner/dance but she already had a date. Back then the girls had a dance card (a small booklet girls wore on their wrist which included a list of dances and boys would write their names on the line next to the dance). Roy tried to get on Janice’s dance card, but her date would not let him.

Roy and Janice dated for a couple of years until Janice turned 20. On August 22, 1957, they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple and thus began their 61 plus years of incredible experiences and adventures.

Roy had many professions. He owned a Root Beer stand. He taught Spanish and Accounting at Pocatello High School - he was a phenomenal teacher and speaker which he used with abundance in his church service. He was the assistant coach of the wrestling team at Idaho State University. He was the Bursar at Highland High School. He was the manager at two Credit Unions, but his true passion and something he excelled at was construction. His cousin taught him how to build homes and he has helped countless friends and family renovate and beautify their homes, plus he has built lovely homes his wife and children have enjoyed.

Roy and Janice began raising their four children in Pocatello, Idaho. Roy’s church service included being a gospel doctrine teacher and a Stake President. Soon the church came knocking and the Middleton’s first move was to Quito, Ecuador in 1976. Roy began his seventeen years of being employed with the church as a Physical Facilities Area Supervisor over construction of LDS chapels. Roy was also called as a Regional Representative of the Twelve for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints. While living in South America Roy helped and worked with many church leaders.

The family was blessed to meet incredible men like Spencer W. Kimball, Bruce R. McConkie, Mark E. Petersen, Thomas S. Monson, Boyd K. Packer, Marvin J. Ashton, Dallin H Oaks, Russell M. Nelson, A. Theodore Tuttle, Gene R. Cook and so many more; some who became lifelong friends.

In 1979 Roy and Janice were called to preside over the San Diego, California mission. Those three years were some of their most cherished memories. Those 600 missionaries became instant family and many remain close to the Middleton family to this day. They have blessed our lives and added an abundance of love and joy and many visited with Roy during his last days.

Roy and Janice also lived in Fishers Indiana and Atlanta Georgia before they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1988 where they briefly lived in a downtown condominium before building their beautiful home in Fruit Heights in 1989. They loved their home for 36 years. Roy was infamous for his immaculate yard. He adored spending most of his days grooming and caring for the beauties of nature. He was also known for being an incredible neighbor and friend.

In 2003 Roy and Janice served an eighteen month temple mission in the Villahermosa, Mexico Temple where Roy served as First and Second Counselor and Recorder and Janice served as Matron and assistant Recorder. For about twelve years they served in the Bountiful Temple as Ordnance workers where Roy was called to be a Sealer. He was able to be the Sealer on several of his grandchildren’s and many friend’s weddings.

Those that knew Roy knew he could change your life with a service or a kind word. His divine influence impacted those that knew and loved him. He was a force for good who loved giving 100% to everything he did.

We feel this quote by Thomas S. Monson reflects Roy’s life:

“You are a mighty force for good…one of the most powerful in the entire world. Your influence ranges far beyond yourself and your home and touches others all around…Your influence will spread farther than you know.”

Until we meet again Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa. We love and cherish you.