Billy Ray Hedlund

Bill (Billy) Ray Hedlund, born: 24 March, 1938, Went to be with the LORD on 25 August, 2023

Bill was a man of the Lord who was loved by his family and friends. Bill loved his family and enjoyed traveling the world with his wife. Bill was born Billy but only three people could call him that. They were his mom, sister Linda and Uncle Sam, no one else dared. Bill was a hardworking man from humble beginnings who started earning money at a very young age working in the corn fields to earn extra money to buy things he wanted. He worked throughout high school at the movie theater as a ticket attendant and a “soda jerk”. He saved his money for his first car, a 1957 Volkswagen Beetle. To this day no one who has had one of his malts will ever forget it. Bill graduated high school in 1957 from Ft. Dodge High School then enlisted to serve his country in the United States Army from 1957-1960. Bill left the U.S. Army and went back home where he started dating and wed his wife Judy (Sandgren) in 1964. After marrying they moved to Albuquerque, NM where his eldest son Eric was born in 1970 followed by Kersten in 1974 and Carl in 1976. In 1977, Bill graduated from the University of Albuquerque with a BS in Business. While in Albuquerque Bill worked many jobs. He worked at Swift and Company, The Salvation Army on Broadway St, the construction industry until he transitioned into Contracted Security in 2000. Simultaneously he was a small business owner offering lawncare and landscaping services from 2000 until he retired in 2020 at the age of 82. His retirement was spent enjoying time with his grandchildren and family.

He will be missed by all.

Preceded in Death by his father William Luther Hedlund, his mother Mae Elizabeth [Recoy] Hedlund, his sister Wilma Hedlund, his beloved daughter Kersten Lyn Nieto, and his son-in-law Alex Nieto. Survived by his wife of 59 years, Judy Hedlund, his son and wife Eric and Tesha Hedlund, Son Carl Hedlund, many grandchildren; Hope Hutchenson, Nora Hedlund, Emily Fitzgerald, William Hedlund, Blake Nieto, Dustin Nieto and Jared Nieto.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church family in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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