Judy Rose Kretzschmar, age 74, peacefully passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026 at Touchmark at All Saints in Sioux Falls.
Judy Rose was born on July 31, 1952, in Watertown, S.D. to Ray and Ruth (Peterson) Brower of Willow Lake, S.D. She grew up on the family farm west of Willow Lake and always felt it was the very best place to grow up. She attended school in Willow Lake, graduating in 1970. She attended Northern State College in Aberdeen. She married Verdon Kretzschmar on June 3, 1972 in Willow Lake. Verdon and Judy lived in Aberdeen and Rapid City before moving to Wright, Wyo., where they both worked for Thunder Basin Coal Co. Judy was a purchasing agent there for many years.
Verdon and Judy purchased their home in their dream location in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota in 1982 and called that their primary residence. Judy had various occupations over the years such as floral designer, pharmacy technician and retail sales, selling everything from Christmas décor to antiques and collectibles. Judy was an avid cat lover since she was a little girl on the farm. She rescued several cats over the years and found good homes for them or kept them herself, which was even better. Verdon and Judy enjoyed traveling to almost every state in the country. Judy enjoyed boating on Pactola.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her in-laws Don and Wava Kretzschmar; her sister, Jean Edleman and brother-in-law Myron Edleman, her brothers, James and Jerry Brower; her sister-in-law, Arlene Brower; her brothers-in-law, Bryce Collins, Verlin and Kevin Kretzschmar; and her sister in law, Peggy Jorgensen.
She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Linda Collins and Pam (Kendall) Borg; her brothers-in-law, Dale Jorgensen and Rodell (Desi) Kretzschmar; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews and her beloved cat KC.
The funeral service was held on Saturday, August 15 at 11:00 a.m. at Furness Funeral Home, 402 N. Commercial St. in Clark, Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. Judy's family invited all to a luncheon following the funeral. Burial followed at Collins Cemetery, Willow Lake.
Although floral gifts are appreciated, the Kretzschmar family requests that memorial donations be made to local humane society organizations in Judy's memory.
