Peggy Jean Steed Henderson

Peggy Jean Steed Henderson passed away on January 26th, 2025 at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, from a coronary event. 

She was born September 29th, 1950 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the old St Marks Hospital on Beck Street, to Elmer J Steed and Mary Jean Lamb. Peggy graduated from Cypress High School in 1969. She was the first of her family to go to college, attending Utah State University, and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Public Speaking. She served a mission in Uruguay from 1973-1975, where she learned Spanish (which she used throughout her life). She later returned to Cypress High School to teach English from 1975-1978. 

Peggy met Bruce Henderson on a blind date to a dance at the Hotel Utah on December 22nd, 1977. They got engaged at that same place, just over one year later, while attending a New Year's Eve dance on December 30th, 1978 (because the 31st was on the Sabbath). They were married for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on March 22nd, 1979. 

Peggy was a dedicated and courageous mother, homeschooling her 3 children and devoting her life to her family. Music and the arts were a high priority in her home; filled with poetry, piano lessons, songwriting, choir practices, and driving to countless rehearsals/performances. Family trips often involved singing hymns and show tunes in 4-part harmony. 

In 1992 she became a certified hypnotherapist and helped many people. She was passionate about using her skills, combined with gospel principles, to help others heal from trauma and move “upwards and onwards”. Peggy also devoted herself to personal growth and bravely followed her heart throughout her life. 

To many, she was known as Mrs. Claus, and truly embodied the Christmas spirit of love and giving. Peggy and her husband played Mr. and Mrs. Santa to countless parties and events for 44 years. She loved dressing up and sharing the magic of Christmas with others. 

She was an accomplished cook and baker. She loved to feed anyone who came through her door, and no one ever left her house feeling hungry (for food or for love). 

Above all, Peggy loved the gospel of Jesus Christ. She spent the last 25 years of her life as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints alongside her cherished husband; first as a stake missionary with what was then called "the Spanish initiative", and then as a service missionary for the Salt Lake Inner City Mission (which was later changed to the Wasatch Front Service Mission), serving the Latino community. She truly loved the Latino people and showed that love by: teaching English classes, assisting immigrants and refugees with legal processes/paperwork, translating wherever she was needed, and opening her home to those who needed a place to belong. She truly loved people and loved serving them. 

But perhaps her greatest joy was her grandchildren. She loved being a grandma so very, very much and created countless cherished memories of fun adventures with each of them.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, and elder sister Connie Steed. She is survived by her husband Bruce, her sister Teri (Skip), brother Jon (Claire), son Brandtley (Mandi), daughters Mandee (Thomas), and Callee (Robert), and her grandchildren Peter, Phillip, Henry, Ronan, Amberlee, and Grace. 

The viewing will be held Monday, February 3rd from 6-8 p.m. and Tuesday the 4th from 10-10:45 a.m. at the LDS church at 5208 W Cyclamen Way, West Jordan, UT. 

Funeral services will follow, at 11 a.m. at the same location. 

She will then be interred at Valley View Cemetery, 4425 W 4100 S, West Valley, Utah.

Condolences can be sent to 6429 Begonia Drive, West Jordan, UT, 84081.