BOMBER MEMORIAL

JUDY ANN WAHLEN SANDBERG ~ Class of 1962
December 11, 1943 - February 18, 2021



Judy Ann Wahlen Sandberg was an elect lady, loved by all who knew her. She fiercely loved her husband, Phil; her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Judy loved Pepsi, Big Gulps, playing cards with Phil and friends and family. She was very creative, writing and acting in several plays. She taught many classes in the community and church. She made the BEST homemade candy and cookies, especially at Christmas. She was a fantastic, tireless shopper. She came to every birth and baptism and special day of her grandchildren that she could. She loved and collected all the Newbery and Caldecott books and read them all. Her children often found her sitting on her bed reading her scriptures, the Book of Mormon being her favorite. She was a master canner and preserver of food, including sweet pickles and jams, using food from her garden. Judy was a fan of watching sports and cheering on her favorite teams AND her children. She would cheer loud and proud for her children. She taught her children to knock and run when leaving plates of goodies on doorsteps. She had hot cookies waiting for her children on the first day of school and hot chocolate after they shoveled the snow. Judy was a master water skier, spraying water in a wide arch with her skis and also slalom waterski. She also enjoyed downhill skiing. Judy loved to go out to eat, watch movies at the theater and attend shows and musicals. She loved reminiscing with her “cousin twin”, Dennis Wahlen. Judy loved the trips she and Phil took to Europe, Alaska and Mexico (twice). She knew how to give great gifts and the best hugs, always making her family and friends feel important. She is fiercely missed by her family.

Judy Ann Wahlen was born on December 11, 1943 in the Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Judy was the first daughter of Ralph Kenneth Wahlen and Lylus Pearl "Lyle" Reading Wahlen. She passed away at her home peacefully in her sleep of kidney failure, surrounded by loving family members on January 18, 2021 in West Jordon, Utah. Judy was 77 years of age.

She moved from Salt Lake City at a young age with her family to Richland where her father was employed at the Hanford Atomic Energy Site. She received her early education through the Richland Public School system, graduating from Richland's Columbia High School in 1962 where she was an active student and avid Richland Bomber supporter.

She next attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. It was at BYU where she met Philip Sandberg, the one and true love of her life. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on April 4, 1968. After graduation, she taught first grade in the Murray School system.

Judy and Phil moved to Logan, Utah so Phil could continue his studies at Utah State University. While living in Logan, Judy attended graduate classes in children’s literature and poetry, subjects she loved. Their first child, Wendy Gail, was born in Logan. After completion of Phil’s Master's Program at USU, the family was transferred to the army base at Fort Belvoir, Virginia to complete his Army Engineering program. This was a wonderful phase of their lives as Judy had a great love and respect for the United States of America and loved to see and show local patriotic sites to all the family members who came to visit.

Judy and family then moved to Richland, a few blocks away from her parents. Their second daughter, Amy Michelle, was born in Richland, and Judy and family received lots of love and attention from Grandma and Grandpa Wahlen.

Their next move was in the cold spring of 1973 to Coaldale, Alberta, Canada. Many great things happened during this time. Their first son, Gregory Philip, was born, and this was the beginning of wonderful friendships that are still in place today.

In 1975, Judy and family moved to Hermiston, Oregon, and purchased their first home. Judy loved the challenge of decorating and furnishing their home, which also included a small rural acreage with a big garden, fruit trees and room for the kids to grow.

Judy and Phil welcomed Sally Ann in 1977. This was a wonderful time, with the best neighbors and friends you could wish for. Stacey Marie joined the family in 1979. Many good friends from Canada came to visit Judy and family in Oregon.

In 1980, the family left their beloved Hermiston and moved back to Coaldale, Alberta where they purchased the home on 18th Street that would remain their family home, and hub of activity and love for the next 38 years. Their final child, Jeremy Ralph, was born in 1984. During these years there were floods, trees blown over, hailstorms, small fires and other disasters that required Judy to use her talents to refurbish and repair their home. Judy also directed the nurture and raising of their children and all of her children's friends. Friendships of earlier days were renewed and many more formed with the wonderful people of Coaldale.

In 2018, Judy and Phil moved to West Jordan, Utah to be near their children and grandchildren, who were all in the United States by this time.

Judy grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faithful member in all aspects. Over the years, Judy served in every organization at the ward level and many stake assignments including seminary teacher, Trek leader three times, Youth Roadshow and Dinner Theater. She was the Church’s representative on the Regional Hospital Spiritual Committee for years and also helped every month with religious services for hospital patients. Judy loved teaching, leading and guiding the youth of the church, and they all loved her in return. She loved to help people in whatever way they needed-spiritually and physically, and one on one, side by side.

She was active and involved in every community where she lived. Judy volunteered at the schools her children attended, including kindergarten volunteer and president of parent councils. She served on the Community Learning Council and Further Education Council, was president of Books for Babies and volunteered at the Lethbridge Hospital for more than 10 years. She also delivered Meals on Wheels for years and was involved as a fundraiser for the Heart Association. She organized a TOPS group with friends and celebrated their hour of exercise with a Big Gulp. She spent lots of time sewing Scout patches on uniforms and supporting her children in Scouting.

Judy was always so active and involved. In addition to raising her children, serving in the church and volunteering in the community, she spent time working in many businesses. She was a secretary at Hanford Atomic Energy, first grade teacher in the Murray School District, teacher (spelling, English, and math) at Henderson College of Business, a “figure it out” secretary at the LDS Institute and a scale house agent with Canadian Sugar Factory. She especially loved being a floral arranger at Linda’s Flowers. Judy was partner and chief boss at Sandberg Laboratories Ltd. for 22 years with Phil.

Her hobbies and interests were wide and varied. She loved to quilt, making quilts for each of her children, wedding quilts, and quilts for each grandchild--each was a masterpiece. She spent countless hours sewing clothes for her kids, including jeans, matching outfits, Halloween costumes and gear for theater productions. She excelled in baking, cooking delicious meals, cake decorating, tole painting, calligraphy, needlepoint, embroidery, flower arranging, woodworking and crafting.

Judy was preceded in death by her father, Ralph; her mother, “Lyle”; younger sister, Gail Wahlen Bowman ('65), who passed away on January 24, 2019; and nephew, Michael Bowman.

She is survived by her loving husband of almost 53 years, Philip Sandberg; daughter, Wendy (Kenny) of Wayzata, MN; and grandchildren: Sara (Cameron), Ben (Lexy), Rebekah (Ryan), Joey (Asami), Jennie, Xander and Russel; daughter, Amy (Barry) Street of Keller, TX and grandchildren: Jacob, Madelyn, Ella and Abby; son, Greg Sandberg of Eden Prairie, MN; daughter, Sally (Brian) Morris of West Valley City, UT and grandchild Gideon; Stacey (Brett) Hansen of American Fork, UT and grandchildren: Olivia, Mallory, Kale and Sloan; and Jeremy (Janie) Sandberg of Henderson, NV and grandchildren: Robert, Carl and Clara. Judy and Phil have two great-grandsons: Ethan and Theo; plus two great-granddaughters on the way, who are getting lots of hugs and kisses from Judy right now.

Judy is also lovingly survived by her sister, Michelle Wahlen Gale ('69) of Meridian, Idaho; and numerous special relatives from the Wahlen, Reading, Sandberg and Nelson family lines.

The family would like to thank Intermountain Homecare and Hospice for their loving, kind and helpful care during the days of comfort care of Judy at home.

The pallbearers were: Greg Sandberg, Jeremy Sandberg, Kenny Ehlert, Joey Ehlert, Brian Morris and Brett Hansen. Honorary pallbearers were: Barry Street, Peter Bowman ('66), Ron Gale ('69) and all her special grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Because of Covid guidelines a private funeral service was held Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Interment was in the Herriman City Cemetery. Family and friends were welcomed to a celebration, Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 2-3:30 pm at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway.

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Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).