Judith "Judy" Bernice Ballard

Judith "Judy" Bernice Ballard

Judith "Judy" Bernice Ballard, age 90, of Badger MN, passed away April 30, 2010.

Judy was born January 8, 1920 to Gusta (Gilbertson) and John Johnson. She was born and raised in Moose Township of Roseau County where she attended grade school at Sunny Side School Dist. 29 and attended Badger High School graduating in 1937. She was raised in the Lutheran Faith and was confirmed at Roselund Lutheran Church.

After high school, Judy was employed at the Badger Herald Rustler newspaper setting type by hand for Gilbert Brenden. She enjoyed and loved the challenge of typesetting as her first job. In the early 1940's she moved to Tacoma, Washington where Judy worked at Brown & Haley Candy Factory hand wrapping Almond Roca. Having set the record number of Almond Roca pieces wrapped in one shift, she was studied and consulted by the companies R&D personnel when the time came to decide how to automate the wrapping process with prototype equipment. Judy still holds that record today!

Tacoma is where she met her husband, Felix Ballard. Felix was in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Lewis during this time. She and Felix were married on January 9, 1947 and moved to Badger, MN where they started "Ballard Motors" and raised their family. Judy owned & operated the Badger Motel until 1976 and also worked at the U.S. Post Office of Badger as a clerk for 40 years.

Judy enjoyed her flowers, fishing the Roseau River with her grandsons, going for afternoon drives, bird watching, playing bingo, pinochle, scrabble, dominos, and doing crossword puzzles daily. She was famous (especially with her grand kids) for her potato sausage, potato dumplings and canned venison, great pan fried chicken, salted pork, and how could we forget her famous doughnuts.

She is survived by son, Loren (Marianne) Ballard of Roseau, daughters, LaMonda Rasmussen of Badger, Jeanie (Chris) Hamness of Roseau, and Kay (David) Gustafson of Greenbush; grandchildren, Karrie, Kristie, Shane, Terry, Brent, Kammy, Michael, Michelle, Jeffrey, Burt, Melissa, Kelly; and also 23 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson. Judy was unassuming and loved by all.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Felix, brother Rudolph and wife Rhoda Johnson.

The funeral service for Judy Ballard will be held Wednesday, May 5, at the Roseau Community Church in Roseau at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Bob Ludwig & Father Noah officiating.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 4 from 6-8 p.m. at Helgeson Funeral Chapel of Roseau.

A special service for family & friends will take place at 7:30 that

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