Teddy Stratton

Theodora "Teddy" Ann Stratton of Orem, Utah passed away peacefully at home on June 18, 2023, at the age of 85. She was born May 20, 1938, to Mildred Farley and Charles Ernest Rohbock of Orem. She is survived by her husband Richard Blain Stratton, her five children: Lisa (Brett) Sorenson of Belmont, Massachusetts, Richard "Rick" (Shelly) Stratton of Missoula, Montana, Ryan (Kadee) Stratton of Alpine, Utah, Julia (Dean) Harmon of Billerica, Massachusetts, and Suzanne (Gary) Whitaker of Orem, Utah; her siblings Linda (the late Fred) Rowland of Orem, Utah, Jeanette (Brent) Mickelson of Frenchtown, Montana, and Charles "Butch" (Myrna) Rohbock of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; 20 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Teddy grew up in Orem riding her bike to nearby relative's homes, ice skating on Utah Lake, playing with cousins and siblings, and helping in the family floral business (Rohbock's Floral). As a child, her life-long love of music began with piano lessons. In high school, she was a good student and worked several part time jobs. She accompanied and sang in the high school chorus. As a senior she was the Student Body Secretary and went to Utah Girls State.
After graduating from Lincoln High School in 1956, Teddy attended Brigham Young University, where she continued to sing in the Women's Chorus and A Cappella Choir. She graduated in 1960 with a bachelor's degree in physical education teaching and was awarded the Outstanding Graduate in Women's Physical Education. After graduation, she moved to California where she taught school for 3 years, and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Austria Vienna Mission.
Teddy met Richard Stratton in the first grade. After going to his birthday party, she declared to her mother, "I don't know who I'll marry, but it won't be Richard Stratton. He's too big of a tease!" Fate would bring them back together in high school, and after dating and corresponding for a few years after missions and graduation, they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 3, 1965.
The couple started their lives together in East Lansing, Michigan where Richard attended Michigan State University and Teddy worked at a travel agency. Lisa and Rick were born in Michigan. After Richard's studies were complete, they spent nearly 20 years in Albuquerque, New Mexico (where Ryan, Julia, and Suzanne were born), nearly 20 years in Flanders, New Jersey (where Teddy taught piano lessons and worked as a librarian for Warner-Lambert (now part of Pfizer), and then retired in Orem, Utah in 2005. Teddy and Richard served an 18-month mission together in the Japan Sapporo Mission from 2005-2006.
Teddy was known as an accomplished singer. She performed in local community musicals, choral performances, and church congregations. She particularly loved The Sound of Music and participated in productions in Utah (as Mother Abbess), New Mexico (as Sister Margaretta), and New Jersey (as Mother Abbess). She sung for years in the New Mexico Symphony Chorus and performed in Carnegie Hall with an LDS Regional Chorus.
She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, which included Stake Relief Society President in Albuquerque and Stake Primary President in New Jersey. Her favorite calling was Primary Chorister. Teddy loved attending the temple and serving those in need. She loved to feed the missionaries. She enjoyed travelling with her family and has visited many wonderful locations around the world with Richard, her siblings, her children, and her grandchildren. She was an avid BYU fan, attending BYU football, basketball, and women's soccer games when she was able.
By far her most remarkable achievement was her role as mother and grandmother. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren and looked forward to spending time together. For her children she sewed Halloween costumes, was an honorary zookeeper to many family pets, packed and unpacked for family trips, spent countless hours in the car driving to seminary, music lessons and sporting events, and daily taught gospel lessons by her loving example. Her children and grandchildren will always remember her yummy homemade rolls with raspberry jam made from raspberries from her berry patch, cheering them on at sporting events, time together learning how to arrange flowers, her thoughtful cards with her beautiful hand-writing, and playing card games around her kitchen table. Teddy was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, at the Orem Cherry Hill 5th Ward, 135 East 2000 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 PM.
Services will be streamed live on walkersanderson.com. She will be interred at the Orem City Cemetery.