Judith Rosalinde Stephan Smith

Judith Rosalinde Stephan Smith, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and faithful servant of her Savior, Jesus Christ, returned to her heavenly home on September 18, 2025. She was born on May 23, 1935, in East Providence, Rhode Island, to loving parents Martin Stephan and Paula Alma Adam Stephan. She is preceded in death by her brother, Martin & is survived by her brother, Eric Stephan.
In 1941, her family made a great sacrifice, moving to Murray, Utah, so they could be sealed together in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Judith always loved, appreciated, and respected her parents so much for their dedication and faith.
Upon her graduation from Murray High School, she decided she would like to be a teacher. She attended BYU and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in history education.
A testament to her deep faith and German heritage, Judith served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in West Germany from 1958 to 1960. This experience strengthened her love for the gospel and her connection to her family's roots. Upon her return, she took a job at the LDS Church Office, serving as an editor for The Improvement Era magazine, where she loved editing articles by Dr. Hugh Nibley. She also shared her passion for music and heritage by performing German songs with her friends Peggy Olsen and Carol Robinson at international conferences on Temple Square.
She met the love of her life, David Kent Smith, in a German grammar class at BYU. Though she initially resisted his attempts at romance because she felt "so old" compared to him, David, undeterred by her "stubborn German resistance," courted and married her on August 31, 1965. Their beautiful love story continued until David preceded her in death on January 8, 2011. She missed him dearly.
Judith's greatest joy was her family. She was the loving mother of Rebecca (Todd) Antares, Mark Smith, and Sven (Laura) Smith. Her grandchildren-Jason and Nathaniel Antares; Bailey Derrick, Jayden, & Isaac Smith; and Kian, Keston, Kora, and Klea Smith-were the light of her life. She adored them all and loved to spend time with them, celebrating their accomplishments no matter how small they seemed. To her, they were the most amazing people on the planet. A lover of nature, she treasured her time with her family in their cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon as well as their traditional vacationing spot, the Grand Teton National Park.
Judith's life was one of continuous service and dedication to the gospel. She served in many roles, including as ward and stake Young Women's President and in various callings in the Relief Society. A gifted writer and leader, she served on the Young Women's General Board alongside her dear friend and co-author, Sister Ardeth Kapp. Together, they wrote the book, The Light and The Life, and Judith also helped to write many new manuals for Young Women classes and girls' camp. Her influence continues to bless the lives of young women today, as she also helped to write the Young Women Values and the Young Women theme. She also worked with Relief Society President Barbara Winder to develop new Relief Society manuals. In a beautiful collaboration with her brother, Eric Stephan, she co-authored the book What Happy Families are Doing, a project she loved. From 1993 to 1997, she served with Lambda Delta Sigma, a church-sponsored sorority, where she helped young women develop spiritually in preparation for their adult lives as daughters of God.
Come and celebrate her amazing life with us! Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Willow Creek Ward, located at 2400 E Alta Canyon Drive, Sandy, Utah 84092. A viewing will be held from 10:00 to 11:45 AM, with the funeral service beginning at 12:00 PM. Interment will take place at the Murray Cemetery.