Janet Belle Tarr was born November 28, 1928, at Colome, South Dakota, the daughter of Otis and Hazel (Hougham) Tarr. She grew up on a farm-ranch six miles southeast of Norris, and attended Kaufman rural school, and later Todd County High School, graduating in 1947. She then attended Springfield Teachers’ College where she earned her teacher’s certificate. She taught at Patricia School northeast of Martin where she met Leonard.
Janet Belle was united in marriage to Leonard Andrew Hicks on June 1, 1948, in Martin. They made their home in Martin until the summer of 1952, when they moved to her parents’ farm-ranch southeast of Norris. They continued to live and work on that ranch their entire married life. Her husband Leonard preceded her in death on December 30, 2009.
In the summer of 2012, she moved to the Golden Prairie Manor Assisted Living Center in Winner, where she resided until moving into the Winner Nursing Home in July 2014. In December of 2014, she moved to the White River Nursing Home, where she has since resided.
She was on the Norris Township Election Board for many years. Janet Belle was a fabulous cook and was known for her fried chicken and milk toast.