Carol Rae Soderstrom Hilton

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother, sister, and friend, Carol Rae Soderstrom Hilton, passed away on April 20, 2023 in Gilbert, Arizona at the age of 85.
Carol was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 12, 1938 to Edgar Melvin and Merle Olsen Soderstrom, and was the oldest of five children.
“Because I have been given much” was how Carol lived.  She saw everything in her life as a blessing and her heart was full of love for her family and friends.  She cared deeply for her ancestors, and her devotion to genealogy reflected this.  Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her joy.  Carol was so excited to meet her great-great grandbaby, Harlee, and FaceTime made that possible.  She loved sending “personally chosen” birthday cards to her great-grandchildren with a five-dollar bill tucked inside each card.  She would call each of her children and grandchildren for their birthdays and sing happy birthday to them.  It was something her family looked forward to.  She never stopped talking about them. She will always be remembered as “Grandma from Arizona” and “Old Grandma,” two titles she held with pride.  She also loved her title as “Ma Hilton” among her Rendezvous friends.
Carol looked at difficult and happy times as blessings from her Heavenly Father.  Her love and acts of kindness will be missed.  She loved chatting with friends and rarely met a stranger. Her ability to talk to anyone was wonderful to witness.
Carol’s motto was simple: “Move one foot, and the other will follow.”  Her heart was heavy after the loss of her parents, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.  We know the reunion was joyous when she walked through the veil.
Carol was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She held positions in the Relief Society and was a wonderful genealogy teacher.  She became a professional portrait and wedding photographer while her children were young, and in addition to that, she was a painter. She especially enjoyed doing landscapes.  She was very creative and blessed with many artistic talents that she passed down to her posterity.
Carol married Jack Hainsworth Hilton on November 9, 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on January 31, 1964.  They were blessed with four beautiful daughters, and retired to Apache Junction, Arizona in the 1990s.
Carol is survived by her daughters Stephanie (Kevin) Hardman, Magna, Utah; Christine (Floyd) Evans, Whitney, Nebraska, Sheri (Ray) Paulsen, Tooele, Utah, and Suzette (David) Easoz, Burnet, Texas.  She is survived by brother Bob Soderstrom (Ila), Minot, North Dakota; Carl Soderstrom, Highland, Utah; and sister Lee Ann Watkins (John), Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Carol has 17 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Paul Soderstrom, and two grandchildren, Kasey Ann Paulsen and Logan Deloy Hardman, and one great- grandson, Drayke Andrew Hardman.
Services will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Memorial Redwood Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah.  The family will visit with friends from 1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m. prior to the funeral.  Burial will be in the Memorial Redwood Cemetery.
Service Information
Viewing May 2, 2023 at 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Memorial Redwood Mortuary





Funeral Service
May 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Mortuary