Trudy Eckholdt

Trudy Eckholdt passed away on December 29, 2025, in Midvale, Utah, following complications from an infection. She was born on January 30, 1953, in Los Angeles, California, and was lovingly raised by Val Irving and Nina Jean Eckholdt.

She spent her childhood in Southern California and Holladay, Utah. She graduated from Taft High School in Tarzana, California, and went on to study at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, earning a degree in travel logistics. Many friendships formed there, remained dear throughout her life.

Trudy later moved to Provo, Utah, where she worked for Deseret Book in Provo and Salt Lake City, building more lasting friendships. When her parents needed additional care, she selflessly moved to Escondido, California, to support them. After her mother’s passing in 1987, Trudy and her father returned to Utah to be near family and friends.

Over the next three decades, Trudy built a diverse and accomplished professional career across multiple industries. She worked at Innovations International, a management firm specializing in Diversity and Inclusion training, where she served as Executive Assistant to Linda Galindo. When Linda launched her own consulting business, Trudy joined her, playing an indispensable role—managing logistics, scheduling, creating effective presentations, and countless behind-the-scenes responsibilities that contributed to Linda’s success as an author and motivational speaker.

Trudy later worked for the accounting firm of Linda Summerhays, where her meticulous, detail-oriented nature was especially valued. She then joined RBL Consulting, gaining experience in corporate change management. Her background in logistics led her to Innovative Emergency Management (IEM), a firm dedicated to national disaster preparedness and response efforts. This demanding role required extensive logistical coordination and earned her a high-level government security clearance. Though leaving IEM was difficult when relocation to the East Coast was required, the clearance she obtained made her an ideal candidate for her final professional role. Trudy was hired by MiraCorp as a contractor for the U.S. General Services Administration in Salt Lake City, where she helped implement security measures at a federal facility. Throughout her career, Trudy was known for her attention to detail, loyalty, organization and doing all with great sense of humor!

In January 2019, Trudy’s life changed dramatically when she suffered a spinal stroke. She was hospitalized and never able to return to independent living. With limited sensation on her left side and lower body, she spent most of her remaining years using a wheelchair.

The hands that had lovingly cross-stitched gifts for newborns and newlyweds and created countless handmade cards for friends and family could no longer work as they once had. Yet, in true Trudy fashion, she faced these challenges with humor and grace.

She formed meaningful friendships with caregivers and fellow residents at her assisted living facility. She developed new skills as a teacher in her church community. Eventually, she adapted her techniques and returned to making and sending handmade cards—gifts of love that will always be cherished.

Because Trudy could not feel pain in her lower body, infections often went undetected until requiring significant medical intervention. Sadly, a recent infection could not be overcome, and her passing was unexpected. While her loss is deeply felt, there is peace in knowing she is now free from the physical struggles she bravely endured.

Trudy is survived by her brother, Starr Lane Eckholdt (Jan), and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers William Edward Eckholdt (Marilyn) and Bill Eckholdt; and nephews Randal W. Eckholdt, Scott R. Eckholdt, and Scott Lane Eckholdt.