Judy Folkestad

Judy Folkestad, 71, Clark, SD, the mother of Kathy Rhody and Colette Barton of Wyndmere, ND passed away on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at Sanford Palliative Care, Fargo, ND after a short and sudden illness with cancer. Funeral services will be on Saturday, December 8, at 11:00 AM at Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC), Clark, SD with Pastor Fawn Lamb officiating. There will be a visitation on Wednesday, December 5, from 5 PM to 7 PM at the United Methodist Church, Wyndmere, ND and another visitation on Friday, December 7, from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC), Clark, SD. There will be a prayer service at both visitations at 7 PM. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be at a later date at Elk Creek Cemetery, Wyndmere, ND. Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND and Furness Funeral Home, Clark, SD are entrusted with arrangements.

Judy was born on March 28, 1941 the daughter of Ardean and Barbara (Schneck) Graff in Clark, SD. She grew up and attended school in Clark and graduated from Clark High School in 1959.
She attended Huron College where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Education.

Judy was united in marriage to Glen Folkestad and to this marriage two daughters were born, Kathryn and Colette. Judy lived most of her life in Willow Lake, SD where she taught Language Arts and the sixth grade. Overall, she taught for fifty years and was teaching 3rd generation kids when she retired in 2010. She was presently living in Clark.

Judy was a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC). She liked to take care of her yard and flowers and also enjoyed decorating for the holidays. Her main love in life was her family, especially her grandchildren. She would do anything for them and made many trips to North Dakota to take care of them. Judy touched a lot of lives in many places and will be remembered as a loving person to all.

Judy is survived by her daughters, Kathy (Joel) Rhody, Colette (Jason) Barton, both of Wyndmere, ND; her grandchildren, Austin and McKenzie Rhody, Cindy, Colson, Connor, Jason Paul, and Serenity Barton; her great-grandchild, Lavinia; her brothers, John (Kay) Graff, Annandale, VA, Paul (Carolyn) Graff, Leawood, KS; her sister, Bette Gerberding, Brookings, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ardean and Barbara Graff, and her sisters, Ruth Graff and Jayne Lien.