Rey Justine Swalberg Hutchison

Our darling mother and grandmother, Rey Justine Swalberg Hutchison passed away peacefully on September 25, 2024, after a short illness. She was 78 years old. Rey fought valiantly for many years to stay with her family and friends and we were blessed by her wonderful example of optimism and resilience. She faced her many and escalating health challenges with beautiful faith, hope and charity towards everyone around her. She will be missed immensely by all her family and friends.

Rey was born April 23, 1946, in Salt lake City, Utah, to Roger August Swalberg and Zola Thompson Swalberg. She was the couple's third child and a great strength and joy to her mother, especially after the passing of Rey's two siblings, who died as toddlers, and her father who died in 1950, when Rey was only 4 years old. She lived a short time in American Falls, Idaho, and grew up mostly in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her mother later remarried and her little brother Russell was born and became her pride and joy! She loved caring for him after school and pretending to be his mother.  

Rey graduated from Rancho High School in Las Vegas. At the recommendation of 2 of her aunts, Rey applied to Brigham Young University. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1969. She was married shortly after graduating and had two daughters while her husband finished his degree. The family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Rey’s third daughter was born and then to Lubbock, Texas, where daughter number 4 came along, and American Falls, Idaho, where the fifth and final baby girl joined the family. 

Rey had a long career in nursing and worked as an RN in hospitals and clinics, as a nursing instructor, a coordinator for a home health agency and was the quality assurance manager and medical staff coordinator for Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Utah. Rey loved the medical field and enjoyed reading and watching anything about medical professionals. Her favorite TV shows were “M.A.S.H.” and “Call the Midwife”. Rey was also an avid gardener and loved growing flowers, especially roses. She learned floral design from her mother and was always creating flower arrangements, wreaths and her darling fairy gardens. Rey’s other interests included Shakespearan plays, reading about history, doing family history research, crochet and recently she started drawing. 

But her greatest love was serving and being with her family and friends. She was always willing to help any of us and was an absolute light in the lives of all those around her. Rey was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings including Primary and Relief Society President. Faith was always very important to her. Although her family was not religious while she was growing up, at 10, she and a friend made the decision to be baptized and walked to a nearby church building one Saturday where they knew baptisms would be taking place. Rey honored her covenants with God throughout her life.

Rey was a wonderful example of overcoming challenges with cheerfulness, optimism and a focus on others. Through all her personal and health struggles, Rey remained optimistic, and never used her difficulties as an excuse not to do her best. She was a devoted mother and was the best grandma anyone could ask for. 

Rey was preceded in death by two of her siblings, Yvonne Zola and Roger Brent, her father and mother and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is survived by 5 daughters, Julie (Jay) Shaffer, Lori (Jimmy) Burdette, Amy (Igor) Splawski, Jolisa Luekenga, Michelle (Steven) Davis, and by 19 adoring grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren with 3 on the way.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 10 AM at the LDS Chapel at 348 East Manti Drive Draper, UT 84020. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. The funeral will be livestreamed via Zoom and can be accessed by clicking the "Watch Services" button above.