Janet Louise Nordquist Brough

Janet Louise Nordquist Brough was born August 13, 1945, in Salt Lake City and died on April 6, 2025, in Tooele, Utah. She is the daughter of Edwin Clyde Nordquist and (Peggy) Venna Louise Taylor.

She grew up in what is now Millcreek, Utah, and graduated from Skyline H.S., then the University of Utah as a math major with a physics minor. A teaching certificate and subject mastery led to teaching math at Skyline H.S. Through the classes and activities of the LDS Institute, she met Marshall Ward Brough, whom she married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 17, 1968, after his 27-month mission.

Upon the birth of their first child, Janet shifted her teaching focus to her own children. There were nine in total, seven of whom officially took summer geometry or college algebra from her to open up advanced math opportunities. These seven children all graduated from college. The other two deserve special treatment.

She was a master teacher in school, home, and gospel classrooms. She began teaching the gospel to her children early in life by leading scripture study every day. To help the younger children, she would wake up early and draw pictures in their personal copies of the scriptures to color and refer to as she taught. These drawings all too often were done while sitting in a “W” on the kitchen floor.

Her priorities were her family and faith-based service to others. She balanced her efforts accordingly. Her 2nd child was born with muscle deterioration throughout her body. During the 5 years that Tiffany lived, Janet “carried” her through a consuming cycle of orthopedic and respiratory needs. Following Tiffany’s death, while pregnant and serving as the Relief Society President, she gave herself fully to the adoption of a little 6½-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, no speech, and all the attendant challenges of having been given up for adoption and living in foster care for 4 years. After caring for Tiffany and having adopted Tracey (who went everywhere with her), there were never complaints about the extra load, and she was totally supportive of serving as the wife of a bishop while raising 6 children (the oldest being age 12 when her husband was released). She went on to give welcoming birth to 2 more children.

Along the way, she fostered music education for all of her children, two of whom became professional musicians. She devoted herself to family history research, taught classes, and fulfilled a 2-year family history mission to Australia. She served for eight joyous years with her husband as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple. She mastered healthy food preparation for her family and loved to make use of her garden produce. Camping was a way to create affordable, family-focused vacations, and she fully embraced it and mastered the skills.

At a more advanced age, she used a church organist calling as a launch pad to study organ (including foot pedals) and served for 8 years.

Her 31 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren are her crowning jewels. It became a huge disappointment when Parkinson’s Disease began to greatly hinder her activities with these special ones. When dementia teamed up with Parkinson’s to mount a dual attack, extraordinary measures were undertaken. She moved (from her home of 54 years) with her husband and handicapped daughter to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Tooele. During the last two years, they all joined forces to carry her to the finish line.

She will always be remembered for her quick, endearing laugh. Before texting was an option, if there was any family news to pass on, she would sit down in her overstuffed chair, leg over the arm, and begin the series of phone calls to each child. Pots and pans served as drums when celebrating, and it didn’t take a special occasion to catch her dancing in the living room.

Perfect time management and chef-like finesse delivered amazing 15-minute meals, and she always prepared a cooked breakfast. An expert seamstress, which skill development began in junior high school, she could sew and repair anything and delighted in making wedding dresses for her daughters (after having made her own while waiting for Marshall to return from a mission). When children returned from school, her voice often came from the basement where she was sewing. She always asked, “How was your day?”

By now, it should be obvious that Marshall considers her to be the most treasured gift that could ever be granted to him. Once again, she has moved ahead and must wait for him, just as was the case at the outset of their life together.

Janet is survived by her husband and eight of her children: Connie Johnston (Paul), Tracey Brough, Esther Kenison (Evan), Sarah Blomquist (Richard), Amy Kesler (Steven), Phillip Brough (Mary), Andrea Young (Spencer), and Eldon Brough (Becca). She is preceded in death by one daughter, Tiffany Brough, and her parents.

All funeral-centered events will take place April 11–12 in Tooele, UT 84074 at the Cedarview Chapel, 691 East Cedarview St.Viewings – Friday, 6:30–8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9–10:30 a.m. Funeral Service – Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Family Luncheon – Saturday, 12:00–1:30 p.m. Burial – Saturday, 2:30 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Cemetery, 3401 S Highland Dr, Millcreek, UT 84106. *** Please enter the cemetery from the 3300 South entrance ***

The funeral service will be available via Zoom at:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8287364151?pwd=wRLJ2YlOmw9s8VYQokJN1IbP6PbVab.1&omn=85342146603Meeting ID: 828 736 4151Passcode: JanetHome