Judith Marie Thomas, the daughter of Albert and June (Williamson) Hennes was born on March 16, 1942 at St. Joseph Hospital in Minot, North Dakota. She died at the age of 71 years on January 8, 2014 at her home surrounded by her loving family in rural Towner, North Dakota.

Judith was raised in the home of her parents and attended elementary school at Sunnyside and Roosevelt and graduated from Minot High School. She was active in Brownies as a young girl and her future mother-in-law was her Brownie Leader, that is how Jerome got to know who Judy was and in the second grade she stole his heart. The young couple dated, enjoyed skating together and fell in love. On April 18, 1960, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Jerome Thomas, at St. Leos Catholic Church in Minot, North Dakota. The couple lived in Minot from 1960 to 1967 then they moved to a farm near Logan with their four young daughters. They raised their family on the farm by Logan from 1967 to 1976. In 1976 the family moved to their present location east of Towner. The couple worked side by side as they owned and managed the Red Owl Grocery Store from 1976 to 1982. She was also employed at the ASCS office and Winger Cheese. She was a member of the St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Towner, where she also served for a time as a Eucharistic Minister.

Judy loved the outdoors, she enjoyed gardening, yard work, raising all types of fowl and rabbits. While in Logan, she had a large garden and raised exotic chickens and her favorite fowl, peacocks. She was a wonderful housewife and mother and wasn’t afraid to tackle any project, big or small. She was also a seamstress, when her children were young they always had homemade dresses, outfits, or even coats. Her last ‘big sewing project’ was her youngest daughter’s wedding dress. She also enjoyed baking and loved looking through cookbooks to try new recipes. She loved her family and especially enjoyed her grandchildren. Christmas was always a special time for Judy, every year the family would gather together at their home and she filled everyone with her homemade cooking, she always made it a special time for everyone. The basement of her home was called ‘Christmas Central’ because it was decorated like Christmas year around! Judy was a proud, passionate, hard working, Christian woman. Although she was plagued with cancer four times in her life she never gave up, and never felt sorry for herself; her can-do attitude will always be an inspiration to her family.

Judy is survived by her husband, Jerome ‘Jerry’ Thomas; children, Kimberly Ann (Larry) Westerman of South Range, WI, Anna Marie (Hal) Thorson of Towner, Linda Kay (Larry) Ranisate of Havre, MT, and Jeri Lynn (Jeff) Schmaltz of Barton; grandchildren, Calvin Klein, Adam Klein, Bryce (Monica) Klein, Brittany Westerman, Dustin Westerman, Erin (Mark) Hagemeister, Bo (Shannon) Thorson, Clayton (fiancé Ashley Coulter) Thorson, Matthew (Amy) Haugen, Jacob Haugen, Caliann Nordloef, Lexi (Jordon) Moll, Leigha Schmaltz, and Lynn Schmaltz; great grandchildren, Jacob Hagemeister, Annika Hagemeister, Quinn Haugen, Elliana Haugen, and Rylee Thorson; her mother, June Lockrem of Rugby; siblings, Carol (Lonnie) Rovig of Albany, OR and Kenny Hennes of Minot; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Albert; and her grandparents.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 14^th at the St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Towner. Father Michael Schommer, Celebrant.

Friends may greet the family for one hour prior to the time of services on Tuesday at the church.