Judi Joy Behling Spiker was born to Robert A. and Joy J. Behling on March 30, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Judi passed away July 8, 2020, in her home in Tooele, Utah, surrounded by her loving husband, daughter and son-in-law. She was the third of eight happy children and grew up in Mutton Hollow in Kaysville, Utah.
She attended Davis High School and Stevens-Henager College before starting her career as an assistant to the CFO of the Great Salt Lake Chemical Company. On Valentine’s Day, 1971, she met Boyd Spiker and from that point on they were always together, making homes in Utah, Oregon, Missouri, and Indiana, where they met many dear life-long friends. They had two children, Brian and Darci, along with Boyd’s two children, Shauna, and Andy, all of whom benefitted greatly from her extreme patience, youthful spirit, kind, gentle nature, and renaissance ways. She worked as an administrative assistant and had her own, small drafting business, which allowed her to take jobs only when she wanted, though primarily, she was a wonderfully clever homemaker and the most magical mother a child could have. She fed her family from her own garden, canning food and making wonderful treats like jams, pies, salsas, and ketchups to enjoy throughout the year. She was the most generous hostess, always taking such pleasure in planning menus to suit everyone on her list and naturally creating atmospheres that were special and fun. She was an extraordinary seamstress, making patterns from scratch and creating prize-winning garments. She took the time to teach her children how to find true joy in simple things in life, the most important gift that one can give and one they appreciate every day. She was a quiet person whose warm, nurturing light shone on those close to her. She made her family and friends know, without a doubt, that she loved them. She was truly an angel on Earth.
Judi loved it when she and Boyd reached retirement and was most happy spending that time in her garden, learning to paint, golfing with Boyd and her friends, fishing in Utah’s beautiful mountain lakes and streams and traveling to see her family. She and Boyd traveled to Europe and have been in almost every state in the U.S. In addition to their sweet home in Tooele, they had a winter home in El Centro, California, where they golfed, danced, and enjoyed many activities with their very dear friends.
Judi was preceded in death by her father Robert A. Behling, younger brother Ronald B. Behling, stepson Andrew D. Spiker, and her loyal cocker spaniel Taffy. She is survived by her husband Boyd D. Spiker; daughter Darci J. Spiker (John Backschies) of Calabasas, California; son Brian (Monica) Spiker; along with grandchildren, Fiona, Finn, of Vista, California, Shauna Marie (Charlie) Muller of Madison, Alabama, her mother Joy Behling of Salem, Oregon, brothers Conway Behling of Falls City, Oregon, Craig Behling of Salem, Oragan, Cory Behling of Dallas, Oregan; sisters Marilyn Anderson of Salem, Oregon, Pam Grove, of Salem, Oregon, Wendy Cerdena of Woodland, Washington.
The family will hold a celebration of Judi’s wonderful life Saturday, July 18, 2020, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the family home in Tooele, Utah. We ask that people who drop by bring masks and be aware of social distancing. We will be holding the event outside to enjoy the beautiful gardens that Judi created and nurtured.