Judith A. Nelson, 82

Judith A. Nelson, age 82 of East Grand Forks, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 after a brief illness at Valley Senior Living, TCU in Grand Forks, ND. 

 

Judith Ann Sobolik, or “Judy” as she was called by her family and friends, was born May 3rd, 1943 to Elmer and Beatrice (Malafa) Sobolik. The oldest of three children, she lived on the family’s farm near Pisek, ND where she attended grade school at a little country schoolhouse not far from the farm. The family then moved to Conway, ND where Judy attended high school in Fordville, ND. After graduating high school in 1961, she moved to Grand Forks to live and attended Aaker’s Business College. She worked at the Grand Forks Herald, the local newspaper, for a bit as well. She then moved to East Grand Forks and worked at 1st National Bank in downtown East Grand Forks. It was while working there that she met her true love, Gerald Nelson. The two were married at his country church, Bethany, on November 20th, 1971. Judyquit her job as to Gerald’s wishes and moved to live with him on his family farm 10 miles North of East Grand Forks. On November 16, 1974, they welcomed their only child, their son Darren. 

 

While taking care of the home, Judy was also very active in the church. She, along with her good friends Robin and Dorothy, started the church newsletter, The Bethany Beacon, in 1994, and they retired from doing it after 31 years! The Beacon is still sent out on a regular basis even after the three retired. Judy also did the nursery roll and kept track of all the newborns from members of the church, as well as when they received baptism. She would also send out birthday cards to the members who were 74 years or older, courtesy of Bethany Church. 

 

When Judy was at home, she loved taking care of her flowers, as she had flower beds that went almost all the way around the house! There was a big garden at the farm too, and although Gerald would help with running the rototiller to work the soil between the different rows of plants, Judy would pick and pull the weeds in the rows and harvest the crops when it was time. There were always garden veggies on the table in the summer and fall for dinner and supper!

 

On a cold day in January 2018, with both Gerald and Judy’s health declining and no longer able to stay in the old farmhouse, they moved into the Good Samaritan Maples addition in East Grand Forks and lived there for the remainder of their lives.

 

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Beatrice, and her husband Gerald who passed December 4th, 2024. 

 

Those who survive Judy are her son, Darren (Debbie) Nelson of East Grand Forks, MN; brother Marvin (Kathleen) Sobolik of Fordville, ND; sister Bonnie (Rick) Monson of Chesapeake, VA; grandchildren Tanya Seim, Tyler (Mandee) Seim, and Tanner Seim; great-grandchildren Elsa Hedstrom and Alayna Seim, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins across the United States.

 

The family would like to give a heartfelt Thank You to all the staff and nurses at TCU and to the staff from hospice that took such good care of Judy during her last days. We know that without all of you, her comfort and care would not be what it was! Thank you!

 

In lieu of flowers, the family humbly asks that donations be made to HIA Hospice / Hospice of the Red River Valley in Judy’s name. Without donations to this non-profit organization, they would be unable to provide the care and support needed to families like ours that needed it most. 

 

 

VISITATION: One hour prior to the funeral at Bethany on Friday. 

INTERMENT: South Bethany Cemetery in the Spring 2026