Judy Kay Valentine of Clearfield, Utah, formerly of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed peacefully in her sleep due to complications from pulmonary edema on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Rocky Mountain Care Center in Utah.

Judy was born Feb. 25, 1946, in Owatonna, Minnesota, to Arthur and Alice Lassahn. She grew up in the small farming town of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. Judy graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1964 and went on to Mankato State University. Judy began working for the Department of Defense in 1968, a career that would take her to various parts of the country. Judy entered the Air Force Reserves while working as a civilian for the 508 Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base Utah, becoming an Air Reserve Technician and serving our country until 1982. She held many positions at Hill AFB, retiring as a program analyst after 34 years of faithful service. She met and married Bill Valentine and together that had a beautiful son, Stephen, in 1983. She often said that becoming a mother was one of the greatest joys of her life. Judy was a very generous and caring person. People were immediately drawn to her compassion and kindness. She was a voracious reader and found great satisfaction in exploring her ancestry. She found and connected with many long-lost relatives through her research.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by Bill Valentine and Stephen (Kathie) Valentine; her brothers, Paul (Loretta) Lassahn, Montgomery, Minnesota, Richard (Becky) Lassahn, Ellendale, Minnesota, Gerald (Barbara) Lassahn, Mount Pleasant, Texas, Lloyd Lassahn, Hurst, Texas, Harold Lassahn, Blooming Prairie, Minnesota; and sister-in-law, Linda Lassahn, Burnsville, Minnesota; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Judy will be laid to rest at the Blooming Prairie Cemetery and a visitation for family and friends will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2015, at the Community Building Downtown Ellendale, Minnesota. Please join us in celebrating her life.