 |
| 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.
