“Salt of the Earth,” Richard and Janiel Orton Presented Salem Days Family of the Year Award (PIC)

Janiel and Richard Orton (above) were among locals honored at the 2012 Salem Days Fireside held Sunday evening.

The Richard and Janiel Orton family was named Salem Days Family of the Year 2012, an honor made public during the annual Sunday Fireside at Salem Hills High School, August 5.

Richard was born and raised in Salem. He says he was born with web feet. He attended schools in Salem and graduated from Spanish Fork High School. While in high school, he met his sweetheart, Janiel. Together, as a couple, they have raised their sixteen children.

Their love for Salem has continued to grow over they years, where they have been involved in the community and developed deep roots with the people who call the city home. Over the years, they have offered many hours of quiet service to anyone in need. Richard and Janiel have always been generous with their time and talents to help others in need- always quietly and, many times, anonymously.

Richard enjoys learning and studying about animals. He has developed nutritional feeding plans for his dairy herd and graciously shared his knowledge with dairy farmers around the country. He has a small band of quality horses, which he raises in Salem, and has a production sale with his baby colts each September.

Janiel loves to garden, draw, and sew. She has shared countless hours of her sewing talent, creating clothing for people in the community, making costumes for Salem Days, altering wedding and prom dresses, and helping others develop their talents.

Both Richard and Janiel are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with which they have always been active and generous of their time in serving others. They are proud of their children and sixty-nine grandchildren.

Included among the Richard and Janiel Orton family are the couple's children and their spouses: R. Seth and Linda Orton of Genola; Jared L. and Rachelle Orton of Spanish Fork; the late Kipp J. Orton, whose wife, Jocie, and her husband, Steve Reel, presently reside in Idaho Falls, ID; Kyla and Joe Prior of Salem; Audra and Rich Morley of Queen Creek, AZ; Malea and Dave Simmons of Elk Ridge; the late Justin B. Orton, whose wife, Kristi, and her husband, Chad Hansen, reside in Spanish Fork; Tyler H. and Tammi Orton of West Mountain; Cody G. and Missi Orton of Salem; Rikel and Heath Bundy of Idabel, OK; Byron R. and Lori Orton of Spanish Fork; Alyse and David Hansen of Salem; Amber and Ryan Penrod of Payson; Korin and Jonny Grange of Spanish Fork; Sister JaNae Orton, who is serving in the Mesa, Arizona LDS Mission; and Delite Orton of Salem.

Nominations for the family made evident the high regard neighbors in the Salem community hold for the Orton family. “The small and simple things which make a successful family begin with the relationship of the parents,” reads one. “This amazing couple has raised a family of sixteen exceptional children! They have taught their children the joy of hard work and responsibility . . . They truly fit the category of being the salt of the earth.”

Find this story, along with other stories about the 2012 Salem Days celebration, in this week's edition of The Payson Chronicle in print.  To subscribe to The Payson Chronicle, log onto paysonads.com or contact Michael Olson at thepaysonchronicle@msn.com.