Judy Kay Jensen, age 71 of Redwood Falls, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Garnette Gardens after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.  Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 18 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.  Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.  Burial is in the Redwood Falls Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.

Judy Kay (Ernst) Jensen was born on January 18, 1945, in Hankinson, North Dakota to Arthur and Ann (Slaby) Ernst.  She was the youngest of two daughters.  Judy lived in Hankinson and attended school until 1953 when the family moved to Minneapolis.  In 1958 the family moved to Aberdeen where Judy graduated from high school.  She attended college at Northern State University and Aberdeen School of Commerce.  Judy married Craig Hilton in 1965 in Aberdeen.  Together they had two sons, Chad and Tim.  They moved to Redwood Falls in 1969 where the family owned their own clothing store for a period of time.  Judy worked for a local bank as teller.  She later started a 19 year career with Farmer’s Union, where she retired in 2008 as head of sales.  In 1996, Judy married John Jensen at Christmas, her favorite time of the year, while all the children were gathered together at home. John and Judy were best friends who treasured each day together.  Judy was always active and busy in life.  She enjoyed reading and watching her kids and grandchildren participate in sports and activities while they were growing up.  She also enjoyed crocheting, doing puzzles, and planting flowers.  Judy loved taking walks with John and her dog, JJ, and spending time at the lake with John and her sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Fred.  Judy was known for her kindness, generosity, love for children, and bubbly personality.  She spent numerous hours volunteering at the hospital and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Judy had a fondness for decorating her home for each holiday of the year and especially loved winter and snowmen.

Judy is survived by her husband, John of 19 years; son, Chad (Kim) Hilton and his family of Marshall (grandsons, Coby and Caden, and granddaughter, Cassidy); son, Timothy (Wanda) Hilton and his family of Indianola, IA (granddaughter, Avarie, and grandson, Graham); sister, Mary (Fred) Garland of Sturgis, SD; three step-daughters: Lisa (James) Prater of Alexandria (John Ray, Sadie, Jaycie, and Karleigh), Michelle (Tony) LeFebvre of Edina (Isabelle, Louie, and Henry), and April (Brent) Berreth of Moorhead (Christopher, Carson, and Kaitlyn). She is preceded in death by her parents and nephew Darin Garland.