Jana Bell Knoch

Jana Vae Bell Knoch, 68, of Idaho Falls, passed away peacefully at her home with her husband by her side, on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Jana was born September 20, 1956 to Carla Simmons Bell and Larry Bell. She joined sisters Gerri, Joni and then Kim was born. Her parents divorced and her dad married Betty Squires Bell. She became the little sister to Terrell, Rex, Bart and Michelle Robertson and then Lisa Bell came along as her youngest sister. Her mom remarried John Zinkan and she got two more sisters, Cindy and Stephanie Zinkan.

She was raised by her mom Betty and dad Larry in Idaho Falls in a “His,” “Mine,” and “Ours” family. She attended Whittier Elementary, later renamed A.H. Bush Elementary after their beloved principal, Central Junior High, lived in Pingree, Idaho, for some time, attending Snake River, then returned to Idaho Falls, and graduated from Skyline High School in 1975.

After graduation she began working in the auto parts industry, “chasing parts” for Radford & Hatch. She became very independent, was good at managing her money and bought her own Austin-Healey, very fancy for it’s time. She got a lot of whistles on her job, after all she was just darling, with her long beautiful black hair and her stylish clothes. She had the biggest smile and made lots of friends.

She was active in LDS singles, making life-long friends. Then one day in 1978, this really good looking California boy showed up to singles and this really darling girl caught his eye and Jana and Ken fell in love and stayed in love for the last 46 years. They were married March 2, 1979, in the Idaho Falls LDS temple.

They moved to Salt Lake area including Magna, later West Valley. They patiently waited for their first daughter. Brittanie was born in 1986. They played and camped, went to all family gatherings, planning a lot of them. Several years later they got a surprise when Kylee was born in 1997. Jana graduated from LDS Business College with her degree in Fashion Design and Home Interior Design. This was a very proud accomplishment.

By this time Jana had begun having serious health problems to the point she was hospitalized for the first 7 months after Kylee’s birth. Ken and Brittanie persevered, with the help of neighbors, work, and family they saw Jana through this rough time and she was finally able to rejoin her now family of four to savor many years of adventures together.

Jana was a devoted mother. She loved her husband, she loved her daughters, and she loved her family and friends. She never missed an opportunity to get the family together to visit. She was an excellent cook and through difficult times she was so disciplined and talented and stretching their dollars so their family was cared for. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was always taking a meal to someone, visiting neighbors and making friends wherever she lived. Her nieces and nephews considered it a hallmark when they became taller than Aunt Jana. She was 4′ 10 3/4″ and that was a big deal!

Jana is our hero! She went through many years of health problems, endured dialysis, 2 kidney transplants, bouts with cancers, chemo, hospitalizations. She became friends with so many people, she would sit by during years of dialysis. She was an excellent medical advisor to so many and was so smart about the body. She helped so many family members, parents and community members understand and navigate their health. She learned to speak up and assert herself with her doctors to advocate for them to make her well. And all through those challenging years, Ken, Brittanie and Kylee were always her rock.

She loved to go to garage sales, loved camping, loved Tupperware and bears. She learned and passed on so much wisdom from being raised in big, sometimes chaotic families and always made room to show love and get her family together. Her biggest dream came true when her daughter Brittanie and son-in-law Travis gave Jana and Ken a beautiful granddaughter, Kymira Munns. Jana said she held on so many years because she loved her Kymira and wanted to be with her. They were great pals and Kymira brought so much joy to Jana.

Jana had peace in her spiritual connection to Heavenly Father. She was stubborn and out-lived so many painful and devastating health problems, but she wasn’t done yet. These past months she let us know that 2025 was her year. That she was scared to die before that but found peace in knowing that her granddaughter, daughters and husband knew she loved them and that she would join her parents, sisters and brother on the other side and be there to greet us when it is our turn. Special thanks to Dr. Haderlie, Dr. Haws, Eastern Idaho Hospice, Advanced Home Health for the excellent care and support to Jana and her family.

Jana is survived by her husband Ken Knock, daughters Brittanie (Travis Munns) Kylee Knoch (Dallas) and granddaughter Kymira Munns of Idaho Falls; sisters Lisa Bell (Alan Farnsworth) of Pocatello; Michelle (George) Price, Cindy Zinkan (Anthony) Predes of Challis; brother-in-law Scott Harding of Pocatello; brothers Bart (J’lene) Robertson, Terrell (Rita) Robertson, and Rex (Carolyn) Robertson of Idaho Falls; and sister-in-law Barbara Bell of Brigham City, UT; and a gazillion nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved and cherished.

She was preceded in death and has reunited with her parents Larry and Betty Bell, Carla and John Zinkan, sisters Gerri Bell Zinkan Albright, Joni Bell Despain, Larry Kim Bell, Stefanie Zinkan Harding.

A Celebration of Jana’s Life will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the LDS church 1450 Mountainview Lane, Idaho Falls, with visitation with family and friends from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by a luncheon for the family at 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.