Phyllis A. Judge

Phyllis A. Judge, age 88, of Milbank, died Sunday, December 13, 2015, at St. William’s Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 18, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank with Father Gary DeRouchey celebrating the Mass. Burial will follow at a later date in the St. Lawrence Cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the time of service at the church on Friday.

Casket bearers will be Phyllis’ nieces: Susan Schulte, Mary Meister, Sharon Young, and Cathy Judge. Honorary bearers include Ken and Julee Hermans and Loreen and Tom Hartman.

Phyllis Ann Judge was born on May 10, 1927, in Graceville, MN, to Dr. Walter T. and Marian (Kennedy) Judge. The oldest of five children, Phyllis was greatly respected by her four brothers. At a young age, the Judge family moved to a home on Viola in Milbank. Phyllis attended St. Lawrence School and graduated from Milbank High School with the class of 1945. She then furthered her education, receiving a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in teaching from the University of South Dakota in 1949.

Following graduation, Phyllis began teaching for several years in Elk Point, SD. She also taught in Waseca and Northfield, MN. She then moved to St. Louis Park, MN, where she taught Jr. High for 24 years. In 1982, Phyllis retired from teaching and moved back to Milbank to help care for her mother. Although retired, Phyllis missed teaching and began volunteering at St. Lawrence School, serving as librarian and teaching Religious Education.

A true teacher, Phyllis instilled a love of reading in her nieces and nephews. She always gifted them with books on holidays, tailoring the book choices to each person’s interests. Phyllis also formed deep connections with her students and continued to receive communication from them twenty years after retiring.

Phyllis was very passionate about family history and proud of her Irish roots, traveling twice to Ireland. She taught her nieces and nephews the importance of respect and honor. Phyllis was a loving and generous woman, making dresses for her nieces but also extending her generosity to various organizations, especially those that assisted schools and children.

Phyllis is survived by her sisters-in-law: Margaret Judge of Crystal City, MO; Joan Judge of Cincinnati, OH; and Kay Judge of Tucson, AZ; thirteen nieces and nephews; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and four brothers: Tom, Bob, John, and David.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Lawrence School Library (Reading and Writing Program), St. William’s Care Center, and Li’l Farm Children’s Home, Inc.