Joyce Kathryn Hyden, 94, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 27, 2020. Her devoted grandson Chad Bergman was by her side.

Joyce was born on February 17, 1926 to Edvin Johnson and Kathryn Maude Butterfield in Sidney, Montana. She was the middle (birth order) of the three Johnson Sisters. Her family moved from Richey, Montana, to Missoula, MT, and then to Tulsa, OK where she grew up. She attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated from Tulsa University in the spring of 1950. She put herself through school working as a medical librarian over seven years.

On September 1, 1950 she married Harold Julius Hyden. They eloped and immediately moved to Boulder, Colorado. Harold was a student at the University of Colorado at the time. Joyce and Harold continued to live in the Denver / Boulder area for the rest of their lives, except the summers spent in Utah, Arkansas, Montana and Wyoming where Harold did geologic field work.

Before her children were born, Joyce continued her career as a medical librarian, and worked at Beth Israel Hospital in Denver. She gained many lifelong friends there.

In 1967 Harold unexpectedly died. Joyce and her two children – Alan and Julie - stayed in Lakewood, CO; Joyce concentrated on raising her children there. She also went back to work at Beth Israel.

Once Julie and Alan were out of the nest, Joyce began traveling the world. Many of her most memorable adventures were shared with Marvin Friedman, dear friend and relative, including trips to Africa, Western Europe, Russia, and the US East Coast. Joyce frequently visited her children and grandchildren; she also visited her sisters in Oklahoma and Alberta. In addition, Joyce managed the Copper Mountain Ski Area condo for the family. She enjoyed many holidays and family get-togethers at Copper.

She stayed in the Lakewood house until 2014, when she moved to the Vi at Highlands Ranch. During her later years she was pleased to stay in touch with family who often came to visit. She was thrilled to get to know the next generation of family, especially two grandnieces who moved to Denver – Joanna Wyman temporarily in Denver while in medical residency, and Liz Milks who recently moved to Denver with her family. Joyce had a young heart and was close to friends and family across many generations. 

Joyce was the truest friend and devoted to family. If you were in her circle, Joyce was incredibly generous. She was always up for a long phone call with friends and family, and had considerable intellectual curiosity. She could discuss history and current events from an informed perspective.

One of the last great events in her life was the marriage of her granddaughter Noriko Hyden to Shukit Shah at Noriko’s parent’s Piedmont, CA home on Dec 5, 2020. Joyce was pleased to meet Shukit by phone, hear about their plans, and to see the pictures from the small wedding ceremony. Joyce and Noriko had become close when Noriko attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. Noriko visited her grandmother often, they had many good times eating at favorite restaurants in Denver, and went on occasional outings to Blackhawk, CO so Joyce could play the slot machines.

At Joyce’s request there won’t be a funeral. She has made arrangements to be buried next to Harold in Tulsa, OK. Alan and Julie will take her ashes there and oversee the burial once it is safe to travel. They plan to have a small reception in Tulsa.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Harold Hyden and her grandson Brett Bergman. Also preceding her are her older sister and her husband – Marjorie and Bill Stewart. Her younger sister Joann Lehew passed away earlier in 2020. Joyce is survived by Joann’s husband Rogers Lehew (Calgary, Alberta). She is also survived by her children and their spouses: Alan Hyden and Laura Sueoka (Piedmont, CA), Julie Hyden and Ken Bergman (Fountain Valley, CA). She is survived by her grandchildren: Noriko Hyden and Shukit Shah (Nairobi, Kenya), Chad Bergman (Bozeman, MT), and Mika Hyden (Berkeley, CA).

For those wishing to make a donation in Joyce’s memory, the following charities were her favorite (or please make a donation to the charity of your choice):

1. The Brett Bergman Memorial Scholarship Fund at Roger Williams University:

https://www.rwu.edu/giving

Once at that link:

• Press the gold “ GIVE NOW” button on left side half way down the screen.
• On the donation screen: Please enter amount and your address information.
• For the “I wish to support” window please select “Other – Please Specify in the text below”
• In the “Please specify school or named fund/program” window please type in Brett Bergman Memorial Scholarship Fund.
• In the “I wish to make my gift in:” window select “Memory”
• In the “I wish to make my gift in the honor/memory of:” please enter Joyce Hyden.

1. Literacy Volunteers - Huntington Beach Public Library:

https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=330374566&vlrStratCode=X7vKsCYaZUgSNvosbkQfcwcMmjqLENAnPu/BpUmoaMr0r7TY+EBqEL4CDUyRoSbK

Or send a check: made out to “Literacy Volunteers HBPL” (please note it is in memory of Joyce Hyden) and mail to:

Literacy Volunteers – HBPL

Huntington Beach Central Library

7111 Talbert Ave

Huntington Beach, CA 92648