Judy Stephensen

Under the dark shadow of WWII and the looming Cold War, when the stakes of mankind were at its highest, God sent into this world a child with a special heart that would bring light to the darkness and help heal the wounds of war.

Judy Ann Hansen was born July 23, 1944 in Provo, Utah to Lavon and Omar Hansen—a rowdy bunch.
In high school she would become a cheerleader and would kindle a love of rooting for and serving others. But while she was learning this reflex, halfway across the world the cold grey Berlin Wall was being built, and little did she know that she was being prepared to eventually confront that wall of hate and indifference.

Answering her own call to adventure, when few women did so at that time, she left her home to study abroad in Salzburg, Austria and, shortly after, served a mission for the LDS church in Southern Germany. Her heart grew beyond national borders—crossing oceans, expanding across the globe to the German people.

While back in Utah, in 1972, she met Douglas Glade Stephensen and knew that they could write one heck of an adventure story together. So they got married in the Provo Temple for time and all eternity. Becoming a world traveling army wife, they went on to have eight children: Damara, Michelle, Travis, Kerri, Brett, Hans, Jed, and Kevin. She carefully instilled in each of them her deep love of culture, travel, and most importantly, an open heart towards all of God’s children.

In 1989, while stationed in Berlin, Germany, when Judy caught word that the Soviet Union was collapsing, she dragged her family to the Berlin Wall, armed with hammers and chisels, and began to tear it down. But instead of harboring bitterness and resentment toward the Soviets, she reached her hand through the cracks in the wall and invited the East Germans into her home, broke bread, played games, and helped heal the wounds of a war-torn people—God's work.

When she learned that there were children from Chernobyl being treated for cancer from radiation exposure, she coordinated activities with the Americans to come and play and lift their hearts. She was on a roll.

After the end of the Cold War, they moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where she continued to expand her reach beyond Germany to the whole world, through sponsoring both exchange students and international officers who were studying at the military college. She built lasting bonds of friendship with people from Brazil, Pakistan, Nepal, Ghana, Ukraine, Mexico, Italy, Mongolia and Thailand.

When Doug and Judy retired in 2015, they returned and served another mission in Stuttgart, Germany. They continued in their legacy of building relationships and serving the people.

Although short in stature, her larger-than-life heart reached across all the major continents of the world, bringing love and laughter to all she encountered.

She passed away on February 8, 2026, in her home in Beaver, Utah, surrounded by her loving family. Although she was born and lived during times of war, her legacy of love and peace continues through her eight children, 31 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, with two on the way. She also leaves behind four brothers and two sisters.

A funeral will be held Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 10:00 am at the Beaver LDS Stake Center (1350 E 200 N, Beaver, UT 84713). Interment will follow at the Mountain View Cemetery (400 N 500 E, Beaver, UT). Family and friends are welcome to gather for food and refreshments following the service at the Beaver LDS Stake Center from 12:30 - 3:00 pm. Services under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary, www.mortuary.org.

Judy loved Bryce Canyon. The family has requested any donations be sent to the Bryce Canyon Association in memory of Judy. Your support funds critical projects aimed at preserving the park’s history, exploring its present and securing its future.

https://shop.brycecanyon.org/donate.asp

Bryce Canyon Association
(888) 362-2642
P.O. Box 640051
Bryce Canyon, UT 84764