Charlene Joy Holden Hyde, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, peacefully returned to her Heavenly Father on July 1, 2026, at the age of 94.

Charlene was born on September 2, 1931, in Logan, Utah, to Robert Roy Holden and Leone Hansen Holden. She treasured her childhood memories and often reflected on the many people who shaped her life, teaching her the values of faith, hard work, gratitude, and service.

She married the love of her life, Gale Woolf Hyde, and together they built a beautiful life centered on family, faith, and devotion to one another. Throughout their marriage they lived in Utah, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, and other places where they embraced each new opportunity with courage and determination. Whether helping build an outfitting business, working on a dairy farm, raising their children, or caring for one another through life's joys and trials, Charlene created a home filled with love wherever they lived.

After losing her beloved Gale at just 39 years old, Charlene faced one of life's greatest challenges—supporting her children alone. Rather than giving in to fear, she leaned on her faith and chose hope. In her 40’s, she returned to college at Utah State University and earned her teaching degree in 1975, creating a better future for her family. She loved teaching and spent many years helping children learn, finding great joy in encouraging and uplifting her students. Her courage and perseverance taught her children and grandchildren that even the hardest chapters of life can become stories of faith and triumph.

Nothing brought Charlene greater joy than her family. She delighted in gathering generations together, preserving family traditions, and sharing stories that connected her posterity to those who came before them. She believed deeply that knowing our ancestors strengthens our faith and identity, and she devoted countless hours to recording memories so they would never be forgotten.

An only child herself, Charlene found one of life's greatest blessings in the large family she and Gale created together. Her growing posterity brought her immeasurable joy, and she treasured every opportunity to gather with her family and watch it grow through the generations.

A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Charlene served faithfully in many callings over the years, including Primary, Young Women, Sunday School, Gospel Doctrine, Relief Society, visiting teacher, and stake service. Her testimony of Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. She loved the scriptures, the temple, and serving others, quietly teaching through her example of kindness, humility, and unwavering faith.

Charlene also loved teaching, knitting, photography, family history, and writing. One of her greatest gifts to her family was completing her memoir, Learning to Dance in the Rain, preserving decades of treasured family stories, testimony, and life lessons. Through her writing she reminded future generations that even life's hardest experiences can become blessings when faced with faith in the Lord.

During the last three years of her life, Charlene was lovingly cared for at Star Valley Health Care Center. Our family is deeply grateful for the nurses, aides, therapists, and staff who treated her with such kindness, compassion, and dignity. Their loving care brought comfort not only to Charlene but also to those who loved her, and we will always remember their service with heartfelt gratitude.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Gale Woolf Hyde; her dearly loved son, Robert Gale Hyde; her beloved son-in-law, Jan Philip Hall; and her precious grandson, Kaden Ned Hibbert.

Charlene is survived by her children: Linda (Robert) Linford, Suzette Hall, Kevin (Jan Felix) Hyde, Michele Hyde, and Cheryl (Matt) Erickson; her daughter-in-law, Kristi Lewis Hyde; and a remarkable posterity of 34 grandchildren and 112 great-grandchildren, each of whom was deeply loved.

Those who knew Charlene will remember her gentle spirit, quiet strength, remarkable resilience, and grateful heart. She found joy in simple things, trusted the Lord through every season of life, and taught her family that faith can carry us through every storm.

Near the close of her memoir, Charlene wrote words that beautifully summarize the way she lived:

"I am so grateful for all of my blessings, my opportunities, the great people in my life and for the opportunity of learning to dance in the rain."

Her family rejoices in knowing she is now reunited with her parents, eternal companion, her son, son- in- law and countless loved ones, and that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, families truly can be together forever.