John Sidney Belmont

1934 – 2022

John Sidney Belmont passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

Born March 26, 1934, to Sidney Henri Belmont and Edith Freshwater Belmont in Provo, UT. He was the second of three children.

Known as JB or Johnny to his friends, Johnny grew up on 80 acres in Provo where his family owned the Provo Brick & Tile Company. It was there his love of steam engines began, watching trains chug past his house and up through the brickyard. He spent his youth working at the brickyard and summers on his family’s ranch, the J-Z, in Opal, Wyoming. Johnny went to Provo High School (Class of ’52) where he sang in the A capella Choir, cheered in the Cheer squad, ran from the police when hot rodding his car, and also met the love of his life, Juel Andersen. In his own words, “A week before high school was over I met Juel Andersen on a blind date arranged by Shirl and Marilyn Groneman. It was love at first sight and the date has lasted for over 68 years.”

Johnny and Juel made American Fork home and had two daughters, Liza and Sally, who say they had the kindest, most loving dad. Johnny worked in Utah County all his life. He served in the Springville National Guard unit for many years. He managed Hoover’s Clothing Store on east Center Street in Provo. Eventually, he and Juel owned their own clothing store, John Sidney Belmont Limited. After that, he began working for Jolene Company, a girl’s dress manufacturer. He was a national sales rep for a time and ended up in management for twenty-two years. He retired in 1999. Since retirement, Johnny and Juel were able to travel more often to many places. Favorites include Normandy, France, and Estonia. Johnny spent 40 years at Riverside Country Club “trying to improve my golf game.” They went on many golf trips, locally and out of state with friends. His hobbies include golf, woodworking, and restoring antiques and gardening. He was generous with his time and talents, including providing many years helping his inlaws, Doc & Lois, teaching his family how to cook, golfing, and woodworking but most of all he taught us kindness, patience, generosity, and what true love really means. He was Papa John to those closest and there was never anyone so loved by his family and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents and his sister Norma Monk. Survived by his loving wife Juel, daughters Liza (Chris) Carter and Sally (Scott) Mayfield, grandchildren: Rachel, Melissa, Sam, Hank, Sarah, John, Rob, 16 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild, and his younger brother, Steven.

Services will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East Pleasant Grove 84062.Viewing 9:30AM – 10:30 AM, Funeral at 11:00 AM. Burial following in American Fork Cemetery.