Judith (Judy) Kay Lage was born December 27, 1940, in Norfolk Nebraska to Fern (Ueker) Raasch & Alvin Raasch. She went to Heaven on November 29, 2023, at Monument Health after a sudden illness.  Judy attended school in Norfolk where she formed a group of lifetime best friends and also found her love of teaching children. At the age of 17, Judy graduated from Norfolk High School, & 2 years later graduated from Norfolk Junior College with her Teaching Degree. She took her first teaching position in Freemont Nebraska at the age of 19 and would vividly recall how tough that first class was to teach.

Shortly after, at a dance, Judy met Willard Lage who was freshly out of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, where he was a Paratrooper. They stole each other's hearts & were married shortly after, in June of 1961. After the reception, in Will's bright red Chevy Impala, they ventured West on their honeymoon to start a new life in Rapid City, SD. Will had outstanding craftsmanship skills & quickly found a job in construction on the Missile Silos at Ellsworth AFB, while Judy was set with a $3,000 per year teaching contract in the Rapid City Schools where she taught at Jefferson, Canyon Lake, & Meadowbrook before finally settling in at Grandview Elementary teaching 4th graders until she retired in 1996.  When teaching standards changed in the 70's, Judy attended BH State College. South Dakota History was her favorite unit to teach which meant that trips across South Dakota required Jennifer & Jeff to name the State bird, rock, animal, flower, Motto…song & more!

Will & Judy built a great life together, with daughter Jennifer who was born after they built their first house on Jackson Blvd. & 4 years later with son Jeff who was born while building their house on Corral Drive, where they lived for 40 years. In 1970 they purchased 137 acres of land adjacent to their home & developed Westview Estates, where they built beautiful homes for clients who all became close friends. Friday night at the Lage's was always fun as the neighbors would stop for great food & laughs on their way "up the hill".

As a young family, summer vacations & most weekends involved fishing or trap shooting for Will with Judy planning stops at beautiful, historical & fun places to explore. Together they built Lage's Landing on the Missouri River, their beloved cabin, welcoming family & friends to fish, watch the sunset, and play dominos!

Judy LOVED her family & adored her 5 grandkids. She was at all their recitals, games, meets, awards, or concerts.  After school, she loved having the grandkids & their friends stop at "Grandma Judy's" for fresh baked treats and homework help.

Judy was a happy person with a caring, kind & fun-loving personality. She loved all of her many friends, was an excellent baker, cook & vegetable/flower gardener.  She loved to sing old Show Tunes, had beautiful penmanship, always sent handwritten cards, loved the color Purple, watching Days of Our Lives, ironing, decorating for all the Holidays, having a "Splash" with friends, and making the "occasional" trip to play slots in Deadwood! She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Judy is survived by her husband Willard of 62 years, daughter Jennifer (Scott) Landguth, grandson Taylor Sagen, Hailey Landguth & Hanna Landguth, son Jeffrey (Gigi) Lage, Katarina (Armando)Lage Ramos & Dalton Lage, Sister LaJean (Don) Hagquist, 5 Nephews & Nieces & their children. She was predeceased by her parents & in-laws.

A Memorial Service will take place on December 27, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Calvary Lutheran Church with a Celebration of Life from 3:00-5:00 at Wings & Rings.  A private family burial will take place at the BH National Cemetery.  A Memorial has been established for her beloved Grandview Elementary School.

Arrangements with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home and an online guestbook may be signed at www.osheimschmidt.com