On January 25, 2026 Birdene Terry Keddington, age 95, joined her beloved husband, Gordon Richard Keddington, who passed away in the winter of 1980. She was born on March 20, 1930 to Elvis Bird and Laura Terry in Provo, Utah. She was named after her father, who went by "Bird". Her name "Birdene" means "little bird".

Birdene spent her early childhood in Ammon, Idaho and Orem, Utah where the family eventually settled. Her childhood was shaped by faith, music, and family, and there was a lot of music. Her father was a music teacher, and she learned the piano, violin and the saxophone.

She was a good student in High School and quite popular. She was very social and the 'belle of the ball' that lit up the room when she walked in. She graduated from Lincoln High School and continued her education at Brigham Young University, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. During her life she sang solos, directed and sang in duets, trios, quartets, septettes, and in countless choirs at church and at funerals.

While at BYU, Birdene met Gordon in a music harmony class. They were married on June 5, 1952 in the Salt Lake City Temple. Birdene gave birth to five daughters, sadly though, one daughter, Lisa Ann, passed away after 36 hours. In 1961 Birdene and Gordon and their 4 daughters moved to Walnut Creek, California, where Gordon taught at Diablo Valley College and Birdene taught elementary school.

Although Gordon's life was cut short, the few years they were together they shared a devoted partnership rooted in affection, music, and family life. This coming March, Birdene would have been a widow for 46 years, about half of her life.

Yet, she decided she would be happy and stay busy. She continued teaching and soon learned to manage widowhood on her own. She traveled the world with her friends, played Bridge and bowled with teachers from school, went to the ballet, concerts, plays, operas, symphonies, and bowling.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attended Church and the temple regularly, eventually working a weekly shift for many years in the Oakland Temple. She visited her children and tended grandchildren, visited her parents, and attended family reunions, baptisms, and weddings.

This sweet wife, widow, daughter, sister, mother, mother-in-law, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend passed away in her sleep with family by her side.

She wrote these words at the conclusion of a journal entry, "To sum up", she wrote, "To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God… To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life, if they continue faithful." (D&C 46:13–14)

She then concluded simply: "I believe these are my gifts. This is why I believe."

Birdene is survived by her children Dena Watkins (Paul), Patrice Christensen (Kerry), Andra Garrett (Kim), 20 grandchildren, and 68 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Keddington, their infant daughter Lisa Ann, and Kristin Clark (Scott). She is also survived by one sister, Joan Harker and one brother, Brent Terry, and is preceded in death by her parents and two sisters Sheree Balser and Karen Rowley.

The family would like to thank 'The Haven at Sky Mountain' in Hurricane, Utah for their loving care these past many months.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 14, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at Lindon LDS Chapel, 610 West 100 South, Lindon, UT. Family and friends may gather from 9:30am –10:45am prior to the service. Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery.

Those unable to attend are invited to view the services at the following link: Livestream