Wanita Lloyd

Wanita Siders Lloyd left this mortal existence on May 30th, 2024 in Farmington Utah. She was 83 year old at the time of her death. She was born December 25, 1940 in Sidney, Nebraska to George Burnett Siders & Lillian Leona Wilson. She was one of 7 children. She had four older siblings: Shirley, Ruth, Lorita, and Georgia.  And two younger siblings, George (the family called him Brother) and Cynthia.  

In the quiet mid-west town of Sidney,  the Siders children knew most of their neighbors, but their siblings were their best friends. Her mother, Lillian, was a gifted pianist who played all their day's popular songs. Their home was filled with music and singing. Wanita had a beautiful singing voice. Her father, George, tended a large garden and filled their cellar with home-bottled pickles, beets, and other vegetables. George was also a wonderful baker. He would wake at 4 am on Sunday morning and bake until he filled their dining room table with pies, sweet rolls, turnovers, and cakes. Shortly after Wanita’s two oldest sisters were married, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught the restored gospel to the Siders family. Lillian and the children who were still living at home accepted the gospel. Wanita was nine years old and was the first of her family to be baptized in Lodgepole Creek in Sidney, Nebraska. Their family made a big impact in the small Sidney Branch. The missionaries were always welcome and often had dinner at the Siders’ home. 

One of these missionaries was Elder Lloyd, who was far from his home in Buhl Idaho. He found the Siders' home a welcoming place in a difficult mission. After his mission he wrote to Wanita and in time came back to Sidney to ask her to marry him. Wanita married Douglas Sorensen Lloyd on March 3, 1958 in the Logan Temple. 

They lived in Pocatello, Idaho, where their first son David was born. They moved to northern Utah, where they had 5 more boys: Mark, Marlin, Bruce, Marion, and Michael. 

Even though she had 6 boys, Wanita was known for her clean home. Her washer and dryer were always humming, her dishes were always done, and her sons often teased her that she vacuumed the house for entertainment. 

She was not only factitious in her home but also in her personal appearance. Her hair, nails, and makeup were always done. She loved laughter, dimples, and curly hair. She was known for always having a full cookie jar, a baked dessert on the counter, cooking in large quantities, and seldom serving leftovers. 

Doug owned a landscape maintenance business. His crew consisted of his sons, their friends, and his dog, Josh. Every workday morning, Wanita made Doug and Josh bologna sandwiches to take to work. When the crews came home, they usually tracked grass into the house. Wanita would chase them down the hallway, vacuuming behind them. She would then give the dog his daily bath, all this before dinner time. 

Wanita was a homebody. Almost any afternoon she could be found reading a book in her living room. She said that the only thing you could take with you after this life was the knowledge that you had gained here.

She was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and aunt. She was generous and loved to give gifts. Each of her grandkids knew they were special to her, and she often had one-on-one extravaganzas to celebrate their birthdays. Wanita frequently rearranged the living room furniture and regularly redecorated her home, making gifts of gently used furniture to family members. Though she frequently gave furniture away, she cherished and kept the furniture made by her sons. 

Wanita was widowed in May of 2007. Though her resources and capacity were limited, she still did what she could to support her family members. She lived in assisted living for the last of her years, and she was supported by her family. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and 4 siblings; Shirley (Edward) Kopetzky, Ruth (Phillip) Kopetzky, Lorita (Boyd Newton) McNeil, and George Siders. She is survived by her sisters Georgia (Wayne) Hawkins and Cynthia (Marlin) Michaels; her sons David (Sylvia) Lloyd; Mark (Merilynn) Lloyd; Marlin Lloyd; Bruce Lloyd; Marion (Angie) Lloyd; Michael (Julie) Lloyd, 17 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 8th at 10:00 a.m. at the Memorial Mountain View Mortuary at 3115 Bengal Blvd(7800 S), Cottonwood Heights, UT. A viewing will be held just prior to the service from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. The interment will follow.