William "Ted" Shupe

William Theodore (Bill Ted) Shupe passed away Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the age of 86, following a fall during the night. He resided in West Valley City, Utah with his son and granddaughter.

He was born May 11, 1939 and raised in North Ogden, Utah. Ted grew up with three brothers under the loving care of his parents Muriel (Merle) and David (Dee) M. Shupe. A natural athlete and Boy Scout, he also loved to draw and perform, and was recruited by his speech teacher to star in numerous productions at Walquist Jr. High School. He played basketball, baseball, and ran track for Weber High, spending summers as a ranch hand in Wyoming. Ted played cello in the school orchestra and, in 1955, bought an upright bass to earn money performing with his parent’s dance band, Merle Shupe and the Star Dusters.

After graduating in 1958, Ted served in the Northwestern States Mission as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he excelled as a top baptizer and served as a special assistant to the mission president. He was also an avid church-ball player, proudly leading his team to the 1965 All-Church Basketball Tournament.

Ted attended Weber State College where he participated in theatre, served on the Institute Council, and spent time in the summers fighting forest fires. Ted married Sandra Colleen Ross Shupe (Sandy) in 1968 in the Salt Lake Temple and together parented five children-Ryan, Daron, Tara, Bonie, and Staysee-and provided guidance and sustenance in their homes to numerous foster children, five exchange students and other family and friends who needed a home. They lived in Ogden, Slaterville, Murray, West Weber and West Valley City, Utah. Ted’s greatest joy was getting his children up before school each morning to play music.

Ted was an entrepreneur, business owner, and artist whose first business, Artifacts Design, developed new ways to manufacture artistic wall plaques. In 1979, he earned his real estate license and founded Great Basin Realty, leading a team of fourteen agents through years of success in home sales and subdivision development. When the economic downturn of the 1980s hit, Ted turned his focus back to his passions for music and community.

Ted formed and managed the PeeWee Pickers (1979-1986) around his oldest son’s remarkable fiddle skills. An early leader in Utah’s acoustic music scene, Ted helped organize the Golden Spike National Fiddle Championships (1978-1986), the Park City Bluegrass Festival (1982-1987), the Utah State Fiddle and Instrument Contest (1987-1994), and the Soldier Hollow Bluegrass contest (2003).

When Ted saw something he loved, he committed himself to bringing it to everyone. In 1987, after surprising his family with a trip to watch a pig-wrestling competition in Idaho (laughing to himself all the way), he brought the idea to Utah—organizing one of the most popular events at the 1988 Weber County Fair. He also saw great potential in Fort Buenaventura State Park, where from 1988 to 1993 he organized music, vaudeville, food, and cultural events that celebrated Utah’s history and community. Among the many youth bands he nurtured, he was especially proud of String Fever (1986–1995), an award-winning group he managed and promoted across the U.S. and abroad—serving as their agent, roadie, soundman, driver, and ever-patient mentor. Other young bands he coached and mentored include Avalanche, Sweetwater Crossing, and Flint & Steel.

In April, 1997, Ted purchased an old church on 23rd and Jackson Avenue in Ogden and transformed it into The Jackson Street Junction, an all-ages venue that evolved through several incarnations—The Junction, The Circuit, and The Outer Rim. Over the next 14 years, Ted offered thousands of young musicians their first chance to perform. Alongside Sandy, he founded the nonprofit CREATE in 1998, which included the Hispanic Youth Culture Arts Program—the first of many cultural-arts nonprofits the couple would develop together.

In 2014, with just a few months to plan and little more than determination and faith, Ted and Sandy launched the Wallsburg Music Festival. Now known as TedFest, his namesake, under their nonprofit Vibrant America, the festival continues as a joyful tribute to Ted’s lifelong mission: sharing music, culture, and opportunity with others.

Ted spent his final years surrounded by family and friends, doing what he loved most—playing, listening to, and promoting music; supporting young musicians; and spreading his infectious optimism and love for life. The world shines a little less brightly without him.

Ted is survived by his five children Ryan (Ashley), of Orem, UT, Daron, of West Valley City, UT, Tara of South Salt Lake, UT, Bonie (Eric Merkt) of Nederland, CO, and Staysee (Jason) Wolff of West Haven, UT, and grandchildren Ryley, Trevor, Gavin, Raegan, Da’Nara, MaKenna, Kate, Kaden, Kamren, and Kailee, and 2 great grandchildren Joey and Jack. He is also survived by his brother Steve (Danielle) Shupe of South Ogden, UT.

Services will begin at 12:00pm, Saturday, November 8th, 2025, at the West Warren Ward, 856 North 5900 West, Ogden, UT 84404, followed by lunch and an acoustic jam for all who want to stay and play or enjoy music. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Ted’s passion project, The Wasatch Mountain Music Festival, better known as TedFest. Donate here:

https://tedfestmusic.com/donate

Services entrusted to Myers Mortuary of Ogden.