Judy Wilson, age 73, of Hayti, passed away at home with family on Monday, May 18, 2026. A Public Visitation will take place from 10:00 am – 11:00 am with an 11:00 am Prayer Service at the Lake Norden Evangelical Covenant Church in Lake Norden, SD, on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Judy Lou Medinger was born on May 26, 1952, the daughter of Calvin and Frieda (Rueb) Meidinger, in Rochester, MN. She grew up in Wishek, ND, until her family moved to Aberdeen, SD, at the age of 9. Judy attended Aberdeen Central until starting her career at Tiffany Cleaners. She worked at Tiffany’s for 8.5 years. Judy was united in marriage to Alfred Gene Wilson Jr. on January 15, 1971, in Aberdeen. In 1981, the couple moved to Lake Poinsett, where Gene ran a service garage. In 1984 they made their home in Hayti, SD, she worked at the Lake Norden Care Center for nearly 43 years until she retired in 2024.

In her free time, Judy could be found fishing on one of her 4 fishing boats or 'asparagus hunting'. She got her first new boat in 1994. Judy has many stories and memories with family and friends going on fishing trips and up to the Dakota Sioux Casino. She enjoyed collecting Tweety bird memorabilia above all, Judy enjoyed spending time with her family, especially the grandkids and great-grandkids. Judy and Gene were many times found catering events for the community based out of their home kitchen.

Judy was the type of person to give her own shirt off her back for anyone in need. She was an amazing, smart, loving, to the point lady that many people looked up to. Judy will be missed by many.

Judy is survived by her daughter Pam Wilson, of Hayti, SD; two grandchildren, Dillion (Kelbi) Kittelson and Alan Blais; five great-grandchildren Raelyne, Teagan and Emma-Jo Kittelson, Jaxson Johnson and Hendrix Locke; four sisters, Ardella (Rodney) Buchholz, Joyce Finck, Janice Willis and Carol Kessler.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gene, two sisters, Arlia Wiest, Mavis Waelhof, brother Jerome Meidinger, one sister-in-law and several brothers-in-law.