Judy L. Balek

Judy L. Balek, age 78, of Lawton, ND, died Friday, February 2, 2024 at her daughter’s home in West Fargo, ND.

Judy LaMae Keisacker was born January 13, 1946 in Lakota, ND, to Kenneth and Lenora (Urvand) Keisacker.  She was the youngest of six kids and she fully enjoyed that position, some would say spoiled.  All of the kids went to a one room schoolhouse nearby and basically made up the whole student body.  When she was in early high school, she, her sister Karol, and parents moved to a little two bedroom house in Lakota right on Highway 1.  She graduated high school in 1964 and met her soon to be soul mate, Richard Balek, at a dance in Lakota.  That summer, she and her sister, Karol, went to Lake Placid, NY to work at a hotel owned by an aunt.  There were many letters exchanged between her and Richard, and they are all tied with ribbon in one of her dresser drawers.

Richard and Judy were married September 18, 1965 at St. Catherine’s of Lomice.  They honeymooned across the State of North Dakota until they were called home for the harvest.  Soon after, they had two kids in one year, Jody & Steven.  They lived a busy but happy life on the farm, and six years later baby Becky completed the family and became Judy’s sidekick.

Judy was involved in many clubs and groups through the years.  Some of them were Homemakers, Altar Society, Bunco, Community Club, Preservation of Lomice, and golf clubs.  She and Richard mowed the Church lawn, delivered rural mail for many years, volunteered at many functions, and enjoyed getting together with friends and family.  She was great at tickling one’s back or beating you soundly at card games or any board game, always teaching the valuable life lesson on how to lose with grace.

In 2021, Judy lost her love of 55 years and vowed to stay on the farm.  She was able to do just that until early 2023, when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and fought the good fight until her body told her it was enough and God called her home.  She was able to stay at her daughter’s home the whole year with the help of many doctors and nurses, and especially the help of Sanford Hospice Care.  They were wonderful.  And also watching hours and hours of her beloved western TV shows.

Judy is survived by her children, Jody (Dennis) Samuels, Steven (Kathy) Balek, and Becky Balek; 4 grandchildren, Megan (Dayton) Carlson, Justin (Alyssa) Carlson, Mary Beth and Robert Balek; her 5 great grands, Paige, Ava, Makayla, Eloise, and Blake Carlson; 2 sisters, Dorothy Evenson and LaVonna Bergland; 2 sisters-in-law, Betty Jean Burchfield and Loretta Keisacker; brother-in-law, Mike Utt; plus many wonderful nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard; 2 brothers, Allan and Dale Keisacker; and a sister, Karol Utt.

She leaves behind the memory of her beautiful smile and infectious giggle.

The Funeral Mass for Judy will be held at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Bechyne, rural Lankin, ND, on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.  Interment will be in the spring at St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery, Lomice, rural Lawton, ND.  Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND, on Friday, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue at the Church on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass.

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