Janet (York) Burton-Hansen

Janet was born July 2, 1936 in Milton-Freewater, Oregon to LM ‘Bill’ and Iris York. Janet passed away on the morning of October 7, 2026 in Boise, Idaho at 90 years old with her family by her side.

Janet graduated from McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater, Oregon in 1954. Janet’s memories of life in Milton-Freewater and being raised on Mill Street with her sister Billie Jean, friends and relatives, were a highlight of her life. She frequently told stories (a lot of stories) to her family of all the wonderful times she had there even during her final days.

Janet studied for 2 years at Eastern Oregon College (EOC) in La Grande, Oregon, earning an associate’s degree in Secretarial Science. While at EOC she met Gary Burton from Elgin, Oregon and they were married December 28, 1956, in the Christian church in Milton-Freewater. They settled in Coos Bay, Oregon and had two children: Mike in 1960 and Lisa in 1965.

Janet was active in the Episcopal Church and choir, and a member of P.E.O. She loved oil and watercolor painting and enjoyed taking and teaching art classes. She had a gift for home decorating and shopping. She also found great joy in music and particularly loved playing the piano.

In 2001, Janet married Frank Hansen from SeaTac, Washington in Maui. They lived on Angle Lake in SeaTac next door to her daughter Lisa and son-in-law Bill Edwards. Janet loved spending time painting with her daughter and taking rides on her party boat around the lake with friends, her dog Lizzie and a glass of Riesling wine.

After Frank’s passing in 2013 and Janet’s diagnosis of dementia, she moved into Lisa and Bill’s home. Later, the family moved to Boise, Idaho in 2022 where Lisa, and her daughter Sarah, managed Janet’s care for the remaining 4 years of her life. Janet is survived by her children: Mike (Lori) Burton of Buhl Idaho and daughter Lisa (Bill) Edwards of Boise Idaho; grandchildren Stephanie (David) Overgaard with their three children Kathryn, Carrie and Madelyn of Boise, Idaho; Jeff (Clara) Burton of Boston, Massachusetts; Chelsea Edwards of SeaTac, Washington; Sarah (Chad) Greene of Boise, Idaho as well as her sister Billie Jean Siler of Coos Bay, Oregon.

The family is planning a graveside service on June 5, 2027, at 11:00 AM at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery, 54700 Milton Cemetery Rd., Milton-Freewater, OR, 97862. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Idaho Humane Society online at   https://idahohumanesociety.org/donate/

Or to mail a donation in Janet's honor please send the donation to Idaho Humane Society, 1300 S. Bird St., Boise, Idaho 83709. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor, Garden City, Idaho. 208-853-3131