Joycelyn Peterson Hedman's Obituary
Joycelyn Peterson Hedman, 93, of Orem, Utah passed away peacefully on March 2, 2025. She was residing with her son Jordan Ricks and his family at the time of her death.
A descendant from Danish and English immigrants who came to America during the nineteenth century, Joycelyn was born June 3, 1931 in Provo, Utah. After graduating from Ogden High School in 1950, she attended Brigham Young University, where she met her first husband, Richard I. Ricks. While at BYU, Joycelyn was a Cougarette, and excelled in her academic studies.
Her marriage to Richard Ricks produced three sons, Randall, Benson, and Jordan. The couple divorced in 1964. In 1969, she remarried, and later adopted her fourth son, Kelly Christiansen in 1971.
While divorced, Joycelyn earned her bachelor’s degree from Weber State University in 1968, before completing her Master’s Degree from Utah State University in 1969. She received academic scholarships from both institutions. She hungered for knowledge and was a voracious reader. Joycelyn always stressed the importance of education.
Joycelyn was a gifted teacher who was loved by her students. While most of her career took place in California, she also taught in Australia on two different occasions (1962-63 and 1971-74), and the People’s Republic of China, 1995-96.
Joycelyn loved to learn and travel. Her travels took her across the world, including visits to Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, England, Mexico, and more.
She had a clever wit and a wonderful sense of humor. Even in her last days, her hospice nurses proclaimed her to be their “funniest” patient. She could always make others laugh, but her endearing trait was her ability to laugh at herself.
She was loved and respected by all those who knew her, and was truly a special lady. She had class and elegance, but also knew how to kick up her feet and have fun. She adored her grandkids and loved spending time with them and looking at photos of them. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and had a profound love for her Savior. According to Joycelyn, her greatest accomplishment in this life was that of being a mother. Her love was boundless.
Upon retiring from teaching, Joycelyn lived in Tehachapi, California before moving to San Diego, where she said she met “her true love,” E. Richard Hedman. She enjoyed the happiest years of her life with him before his passing on June 15, 2011. Joycelyn was also predeceased by her son Benson, and sister Marlene.
Joycelyn is survived by three sons, Randall, Jordan, and Kelly, as well as 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. A graveside service will be held for her at Glen Abbey Cemetery in San Diego, Tuesday, March 18, at noon.
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