Susan Murray Hedquist passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025, surrounded by family at her farm in Spanish Fork, Utah. She was 74. Susan was called to her eternal home after a lengthy and courageous battle with ALS. She faced this challenge with a remarkable degree of grace, humility, faith, and with her characteristically sharp sense of humor intact. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and members of the community and remembered for her quiet but meaningful acts of service.
Born on October 19, 1950, Susan was the youngest child of William George Hughes Murray and Verena Bawden Murray. She was raised on the family’s farm in Washington state, where she developed a love for animals – particularly horses and sheep. She also exhibited an early love and talent for music, and she went on to be a music major at Central Washington University, with a focus on French horn performance, in addition to earning a teaching certificate.
Susan served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in France and Switzerland, at a time when it was still relatively unusual for women to choose to serve missions. She had her first encounter with Greg Hedquist, the man who would one day become her husband, during a friendly soccer match organized for the mission zone. He didn’t make the best first impression, as he knocked her into a bush during the game. They reunited by chance two years later when Susan ran into Greg while out for a leisurely bike ride in Provo, Utah. After multiple such “chance encounters,” the pair finally got the message that fate was bringing them together for a reason. They married on June 18, 1976 at the Logan, Utah Temple.
Susan and Greg settled down in the Salt Lake Valley and welcomed three children: Heather, Christopher, and Alexander. Susan once again broke with convention and was a working mother throughout their childhood, with the bulk of her career spent as an insurance adjuster. Yet, her family was always her first priority and greatest joy. She and Greg filled their children’s lives with memorable adventures skiing at Snowbird, boating at Lake Powell, sailing at Bear Lake, backpacking, scuba diving, and more. As the children grew up and became involved in various activities, Susan made those her hobbies, as well – such as becoming a race official for USA Luge after Heather and Chris began competing in the sport and later officiating in the 2002 Olympic Games.
A lifelong member of the LDS Church, Susan served quietly and patiently in a variety of callings, particularly in Primary and as a temple worker. But she served tirelessly in many other capacities and with so little fanfare that it’s nearly impossible to know the full extent of her service. From taking in families with no place to stay, to taking elderly neighbors under her wing, to using her remarkable skill in spinning and weaving for the benefit of others, service was a constant theme of Susan’s life. In particular, she cared for her own father with great devotion before he passed away at 102. As her children moved away from Utah and began families of their own, Susan was always ready and willing to travel long distances to be a help and support for them, especially by caring for her grandchildren.
After raising their family, Susan and Greg purchased a 10-acre “hobby farm” in Spanish Fork, where they quickly accumulated a small flock of Shetland sheep and her horse. They affectionately called it “Ten Flat Acres,” and they looked forward to focusing on the farm during their retirement, while also making plans to travel and spend time with family in various parts of the world.
Susan had always loved and excelled at the fiber arts – from spinning yarn to knitting, crocheting, weaving, sewing, and more. No matter the setting, she always had a project close at hand and was working on something beautiful to share with someone in need or someone she loved. She loved to share her knowledge and talents, and she did this frequently by working as a docent at This is the Place Heritage Village and the Castle Valley Pioneer Pageant, and also by offering informal instruction to anyone who expressed an interest in learning. She was in the process of completing a master’s degree in fiber arts before ALS robbed her of the use of her hands.
Susan earned the deep admiration of family, friends, and her medical team for the stoic and uncomplaining way she faced this terrible progressive disease. Her husband Greg cared for her with devotion and great love, helping her remain at their farm until the very end. They celebrated their 49th anniversary in June and missed celebrating her 75th birthday by a matter of days.
Susan will be remembered and greatly missed for her kindness, empathy, faith, graciousness, wisdom, wit, and her knack for having an endless supply of unexpected bits of knowledge. Her memory will be kept alive by: her husband Gregory L. Hedquist; her children Heather Annika Wiest (husband Daniel Wiest), Christopher Ian Hedquist (wife Chelsea Hedquist), and Alexander Keaton Hedquist (wife Carlie Hedquist); and her eight grandchildren, including Kipling (18), Michael (17), Nellie (14), Joshua (13), Liam (12), Annika (10), Oliver (10), and Magnus (6).
Funeral services will be held on October 21, 2025 at 12 PM at the Benjamin Ward chapel (3238 West 7300 South Spanish Fork, Utah). Internment will be following the service at Eastlawn Memorial Hills in Provo.
Susan believed in leaving the world better than she found it. Please celebrate her life by doing something that makes a difference for others. Brighten someone’s day – volunteer, give back, or simply extend a helping hand to your neighbors or individuals in your community.
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