Janice "Jan" Evelyn (Decker) Belden

Janice Evelyn (Decker) Belden

Gillette, WY

November 30, 1936 – April 3, 2026

Janice, or Jan as she preferred to be called, was born on November 30, 1936, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to loving parents Edgar and Lucy Decker. She was the youngest of 9 siblings. She lived in Melbeta, Nebraska until she was three years old. Her parents moved to Guernsey, Wyoming in 1940 to open the Decker Mercantile where she learned a good work ethic helping out in the store. She graduated High School in 1954 and completed her B.A. in Education at the University of Wyoming in 1959. Jan taught Kindergarten for 15 years and operated an in-home daycare for 10 years.

Jan met Dale Belden in 1955 at the University of Wyoming, and they married on December 30, 1956, in the Presbyterian community church in Guernsey, Wyoming. Their son Scott was born June 24, 1959, and their daughter Connie was born February 26, 1963. Connie joined our Heavenly father on May 11, 2022. Jan’s family grew with Scott’s marriage to Jonni in 1979 and the arrival of three children: Kyle Belden (Megan) of Modesto, California, Ana Belden who passed away in 2014, and Gabe Belden (Lauralyn) of Watford City, North Dakota. Jan’s family continued to grow with Connie’s marriage to Tom Thompson and the arrival of two sons: Lane Thompson of Loveland, Colorado and Seth Thompson (Corrine) of Gillette, Wyoming. Being a Grandmother and Great-Grandmother was the joy of her life, and her family was her treasure. Jan had 11 great-grandchildren, Abby, Judah, Vida, Jeremiah and Angelo Belden of Modesto, California, Abel and Galilee Belden of Watford City, North Dakota and Lilly, Theodora, Vera and Cedar Thompson of Gillette, Wyoming. Grand-parenting was a wonderful part of her life and she loved all children.

Jan enjoyed spending time with family, taking pictures, scrapbooking, conversations with friends (and strangers), reunions, reading, watching TV, playing games (exclusively SWOOP in recent years), puzzles and going to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s activities. You rarely saw her without a camera in her hand. She was very involved in the lives of her “grands” and “greats” and chronicled their activities and accomplishments in many binders of pictures, music programs, writings, poems, stories, artwork and more. She considered them God’s gifts and a beacon of God’s glory and grace. Every home she and Dale lived in received a “Little” remodeling. Those many projects were completed with her devoted husband of 64 years. For years, Jan studied and prayed with the Amazing Gray’s bible study group at High Plains community Church. She loved people and had a gift of learning their life story in just a few minutes of conversation. She filled the hearts of many with joy and love as she lived her faith every day with courage and trust. She desired that anyone she met would come to know Jesus through her testimony and life. She knew that death has no victory or sting when you believe in the risen Savior. She rejoiced at the thought of meeting Jesus face to face and hoped to be welcomed with the words, “Well done good and faithful servant”. Jan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dale Belden, Dearest daughter, Connie Thompson, precious granddaughter Ana Belden, parents and grandparents, seven brothers and their wives, one sister and her husband and many other friends and family.

She loved this quote by D.L. Moody. “If you are reading this in the newspaper, you will read that I am dead. Do NOT believe a word of it, for I will be more ALIVE than ever before!!” Her greatest joy would be for you to know this as well.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearance.

A Memorial Service will be held in remembrance of both Jan and Dale Belden at High Plains Community Church, in Gillette, Wyoming on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. A family graveside service and celebration will be held in the future in Wheatland, Wyoming.

In lieu of flowers please send any memorials and condolences in care of Gillette Memorial chapel, 210 West 5th St., Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com