Judy Farwell

A memorial service to commemorate Judy Farwell's life was held July 31 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Ekalaka.

With those big brown eyes that said her love for us would forever be, on July 26, 2019, Judy Ann (Lovec) Farwell was forced by nature to turn herself free.

Judy was born on July 28, 1945 to Emil and Eula Lovec and her childhood years were spent on the family farm near Mill Iron. As the oldest of 7 siblings (Mary, Mike, Patricia, Carla, Emily, Steve and Sandy), Judy helped her father and mother with farm and ranch work. She especially enjoyed roaming the range with her horse and dog. She attended country grade schools and then went to Carter County High School in Ekalaka.

During 1958, she started dating Sherry Farwell and this marked the beginning of an enduring 61-year long romance. Judy was frustrated by the lack of opportunities for girls to participate in high school sports, but she was a cheerleader for the Bulldogs.

After her high school graduation in 1963, Judy and Sherry were married. The young, adventurous couple then moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where Sherry was an undergraduate student at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology while Judy worked to support their family, which by 1965 had increased to four with the addition of a son, Gary, and a daughter, Jodey.

Judy's continuous nurturing, devotion, love, protection and teaching had a profound positive influence on both of her children and her husband. Through her impact, we learned to count our multitude of blessings. Sherry's pursuit of early career positions in Dubuque, Iowa and Beaverton, Oregon followed by additional graduate education required Judy's ongoing role as the intelligent, hard-working source of their financial support while continuing her essential roles as wife, mother, mentor, advisor, guide and part-time student.

During 1969-73, Judy was an administrative assistant at Montana State University. The family moved to Moscow, Idaho in 1973 and Judy resumed her administrative assistant career at Washington State University.

In 1988 she resigned from her administrative position with the College of Pharmacy to finish her bachelor's degree at the University of Idaho in Public Relations/Communications.

After her graduation from Idaho with highest honors, Sherry and Judy moved to Arlington, Virginia in 1991 so Sherry could work at the National Science Foundation. Judy flourished in the DC environment and enjoyed the high energy educational, recreational and political environment. Her favorite activities were major league baseball games, theater, concerts, sight-seeing and historical excursions.

They returned to South Dakota/Montana in 1995 and established their current home in the Northern Black Hills. During 2004-2007, Judy and Sherry completed another tour of professional service in Washington, DC.

The births of five grandchildren (Ryan, Erin, John Henry, Sophie and Lily) provided Judy with a new role. Her blending of unconditional love, unselfishness, companionship, wisdom, humor, generosity and unwavering support made Judy the ideal grandmother in the eyes of her grandchildren. Judy's relationships also included many special friends such as Tanya Wolf and a spiritual black cat named Lucky. However, family remained the centerpiece of her life.

Surviving family includes her devoted husband, Sherry; two children, Gary (Shellie) and Jodey; four grandchildren: Ryan Lingg, Erin Lingg, Sophie Farwell and Lily Farwell; six siblings: Mary Bierschenk (Gary), Patricia Robinson (Mark), Carla Boyer (Phil), Emily Gentry (Darrel), Steve Lovec (Tricia), and Sandy Tooke (Tim); brother-in-law George Farwell (Debra); and 79 nieces and nephews. Because of Judy (Lovec) Farwell, her immediate family considers themselves extremely fortunate and blessed.

Our hearts were broken by nature on July 26, 2019 when we lost the key foundation of our lives. However, the love from Judy and our memories of her will endure as we model her extreme personal courage and remember her unconditional devotion to us.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.stevensonfuneralhome.com

Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory – Ekalaka, MT