Heather June Hardy Betteridge's Obituary
Heather June Hardy Betteridge, 65, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 27, 2024, and returned to the waiting arms of her parents.
Heather and her husband had just completed a mission to England for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when she began to suffer symptoms related to a brain tumor. She passed away just two and a half weeks after her diagnosis, providing precious days filled with expressions of love and reminiscing of a life joyfully lived.
Heather was born in San Jose, California, to Douglas Woodford Hardy and Evelyn Louise Moncur. She is the sixth of 11 children and was seen as the “glue” of the family. Their home in San Jose provided a fertile environment for her to develop her love of music, dance and learning. Her parents provided many opportunities for her to study and perform on the piano, the violin and sing. One of her favorite opportunities was to sing in the multi-stake production of Mendelssohn’s Elijah Oratorio. She found great joy attending and developing her interpersonal skills at Young Womens Camp each year. Having pursued summer school opportunities in high school, she was able to graduate a year early and was accepted to Brigham Young University Provo at the age of 17 to begin her education in piano pedagogy.
While in her freshman year, she met Bryce Lamont Betteridge (Mont), who was also a member of her ward. They began dating in March of 1977 and were soon engaged. She worked at a car dealership in San Jose until their wedding day on August 9th, 1977. Their marriage was solemnized in the Oakland, California Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where they were sealed together for time and all eternity.
After their wedding, Heather began working and studying piano performance privately while Mont finished his formal schooling. During this time they welcomed their first child into the world, Jared Lamont who was born in Provo, Utah. Mont then accepted a job offer back east which took them across the country to Binghamton, New York in 1979.
In Binghamton, Heather continued to study piano with a professional piano teacher, and began to learn the ins and outs of teaching piano lessons, taking on several students after they procured their first piano. Over the next 10 years their family continued to grow. Additional children born in Binghamton were Justin Bryce, Tiffany Lee, Brittney Lynné and Jordan Douglas. These were busy days for Heather as a young mother, but she still made time for her own private piano lessons and even enrolled in a point ballet class at a local ballet academy.
Mont’s career then took them to Flower Mound, Texas where Heather gave birth to their sixth child, Sarah Evelyn. After nearly four years in Texas, business opportunities led them to move to Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Yorba Linda, California and then finally to Tacoma, Washington where Mont grew up. These moves provided an environment for her children to learn how to make friends and adapt to change, experiences they are grateful for to this day.
While in Tacoma, Heather’s piano teaching began to rapidly grow as she took on a large group of students including nieces and nephews. She was always delighted to teach family and she hosted many piano recitals in their new home in Tacoma.
Heather’s service in the church brought her great joy. She was always in demand as a piano and organ accompanist for Sacrament meetings, special choirs, funerals, soloists and youth groups. She especially enjoyed the opportunities she had to accompany the multi-stake cultural arts productions while in the Tacoma area. Her accompaniment skill was highly developed and well recognized by her many musician friends. She served as Relief Society president, Young Women’s president and also as an institute and seminary teacher.
Heather has always been a member of a book club. She’s enjoyed learning about other cultures and taking trips to visit those places with her friends.
While in Tacoma, a very special event took place – the miraculous placement of a young girl, Hailey, into Heather’s care. Hailey needed a home at six years of age. Heather and Mont had been caring for Hailey on weekends for a counselor friend before the State of Washington took custody. They could not bear the thought of Hailey going into the foster care system so Heather quickly began to study and take the qualification courses required to receive a foster care license so Hailey could return to their home. A year later they began the process of adoption. When asked what middle name she wanted for her birth certificate– Hailey chose Heather’s middle name, June– a fitting tribute to Heather’s love and special bond with Hailey. Heather’s eternal family was completed on August 10, 2007 when Hailey was sealed to them in the Jordan River temple.
When invited to submit hymns for the new hymn book, Heather and her sister, Tara, enthusiastically began writing the music and lyrics for five hymns and five children songs. These sacred hymns and songs have been a great blessing to Heather’s family and friends, and will continue to bless her posterity throughout eternity.
Heather and Mont moved in 2021 to Utah to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Because of Heather’s lifelong love of nature, one of her favorite places to spend time with family was at their mountain property in Tollgate Canyon, nicknamed “the Ridge.” Taking care of grandchildren and teaching them in a loving and gentle way has been Heather’s crowning joy. She has been blessed, to date, with 27 cherished grandchildren. Heather’s greatest legacy is how she loves and teaches her children and grandchildren to follow Jesus Christ, which we expect will continue in special ways beyond the veil.
It has always been Heather’s greatest desire to serve a senior mission with her husband. She accepted a call to serve in July, 2022 and began service in the Leeds England mission in December. Serving the young adults of the Sunderland England stake kept them busy. She made many eternal friends while visiting stake members, teaching the young adults and cooking them favorite American dishes. In her final months of service she began to unknowingly suffer from the symptoms of a brain tumor, but despite this she gave her all to the very end of her mission service and returned home on April 25th, 2024 to the loving arms of her family. She now will continue her service and ministering to loved ones in the life beyond. Thank you, Heather June, for the loving and gracious life you have lived. Our hearts are forever full of gratitude for your example, your teachings and kindness to your family and those around you.
Heather is survived by her husband Bryce Lamont and seven children: Jared (Ashley) Betteridge, Justin (Radene) Betteridge, Tiffany (Todd) Ericksen, Brittney (Chris) Archibald, Jordan (Estefania) Betteridge, Sarah (German) Stewart, Hailey Betteridge and 27 grandchildren.
Heather is also survived by five sisters; Susan Brady, Tara Anderton, Cheri Hancock, Rebecca Berbert and Bonnie Morrison as well as four brothers; Stan Hardy, Robert Hardy, Jack Hardy and Jim Hardy.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the Harvest Hills 10th Ward, the American Fork 14th Ward and the amazing caregivers at Pointe Meadows Rehab and A Plus Healthcare at Home for their kindness and many acts of service during her care. She loved them all!
Funeral services will be held at the Saratoga Springs Harvest Hills LDS Stake Center at 368 W Aspen Hills Blvd, Saratoga Springs, Utah 84045, on Saturday, November 2nd at 10:00 a.m. A family meeting and viewing will be held before the funeral at 9:00 am at the same location. A viewing also will be held Friday evening at the Harvest Hills LDS Stake Center at 368 W Aspen Hills Blvd, Saratoga Springs, Utah 84045 on Friday, November 1st from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral services are being provided by Premier Funeral Services of Orem. More information is available at www.premierfuneral.com. Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 N. 800 E., Orem, Utah.
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