November 11, 1942 – October 19, 2026. Salt Lake City, Utah — Judith “Judy” Brown Christensen returned to her Father in Heaven on October 19, 2026. Judy passed as she lived, with confidence, independence, and a vitality that inspires us all.
Judy lived a life true to herself, her family, and her Savior. Her spiritual and social presence warmed every room she entered, and her greatest legacy will always be the boundless love she offered everyone around her. She gave freely of her time and talents to friends and strangers alike—never passing up a chance to connect with a grocery checker, bank teller, landscaper, or fast food employee.
She is now reunited with her eternal companion, best friend, and earthly husband of fifty-three years, Krege Bowen Christensen, who preceded her in death in 2017.
Judy was born on November 11, 1942, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Keith Chapin and Geneva Burdett Brown. She spent much of her early childhood in Sugarhouse before her family moved to Verona Circle in Holladay. She was elected Student Body Historian and graduated from Olympus High School in 1960. She then attended the University of Utah, pursuing her passion for learning and earning a degree in Elementary Education.
It was during her college years that Judy, an active Chi Omega, and Krege, a dedicated Sigma Chi, met through fraternity and sorority activities. Krege always said that Judy was the “best thing that ever happened to him,” and his admiration for her qualities was a constant theme throughout their marriage. The number 13 became their sweet, recurring lucky symbol: they had their first date on Friday the 13th, became engaged on a Friday the 13th, and were ultimately sealed for time and all eternity on February 13, 1964.
Following graduation, Judy taught at Oakridge Elementary for three years, supporting Krege while he pursued his graduate degree. She was a natural educator whose empathy left lasting marks on her students. On one memorable occasion, when a young fifth-grader was being teased by classmates for participating in Ballet West’s The Nutcracker, Judy thoughtfully integrated ballet movements into her lesson plans. By helping the entire class appreciate the physical effort and art of ballet, she replaced teasing with admiration—and made her young student feel deeply accepted. That student later wrote Judy to share that the class experience changed her life.
Judy and Krege moved their young family to Washington, D.C., where Krege pursued a career with the SEC and attended night law school. When they learned that Judy’s mother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, they unhesitatingly moved their family back to Salt Lake City to help care for her. Judy and Krege spent the remainder of their lives in the Mt. Olympus Cove area. Her children went on to attend Skyline High—the rival of Judy’s beloved Olympus High. Permitting her children to be Eagles rather than Titans is one of a million sacrifices she lovingly made for her family.
As the heart and “CEO” of her family, Judy led with grace, humor, unconditional love, and selflessness. She was never overly demanding as a mother, but taught her children to work hard in school, love one another fiercely, nurture their spiritual and social lives, seek out leadership opportunities, and explore music and the stage, athletics, and any hobby or interest that sparked their curiosity.
Judy served faithfully in Christ-centered service to her church and community. She served in a myriad of church callings, including President of the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society (on both ward and stake levels). She happily dedicated hundreds of hours of service as a Chi Theta Chi advisor from 1993 to 1996. Judy also served with Krege to lead the University of Utah Medical Center Branch from 1999 to 2002.
She remained active with her Chi Omega sisters, enjoyed book clubs and her beloved “Forever Friends” dinner group, and sought out opportunities to serve whenever asked—and often when unasked.
Judy found great joy in family history, indexing thousands of names for Church genealogical work. Above all, she treasured her role as a mother and grandmother. She tracked every birthday and anniversary religiously, ensuring every family member received a card in the mail on their special day—always with a crisp $50 bill tucked inside.
Judy is survived by her six children: Daniel (Kelly) Christensen, Adam (Cindy) Christensen, Mindy (Eddie) Simon, Tami (Chris) Whisenant, Megan (Clint) Christensen, and Marin (Dan) Bywater; as well as 31 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, each of whom she adores.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Krege; her parents; her younger brother, Ron; and four precious grandchildren. We take comfort in knowing they are all joyfully reunited, and that Mom is running and dancing alongside her mother, Geneva, who spent much of her earthly life in a wheelchair.
The family expresses deep gratitude to the skillful paramedics and caregivers at St. Mark's Hospital, whose compassionate care brought us a sense of dignity and peace during Mom’s final moments.
Friends and family may visit on Thursday, October 29, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Mount Olympus Stake Center, located at 4176 Adonis Drive, Millcreek, Utah, 84124. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, October 30th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mt. Olympus Stake Center. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the same location. Friends and family are also welcome to join us at the graveside at Larkin Sunset Lawn (2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City) from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Online Condolences may be shared at www.larkincares.com