Judith Whitepipe, 74, of Gregory, passed away on Sept. 1, 2018, after a long struggle with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy.

Visitation and prayer service were held Tuesday, Sept. 4, at the Berean Church in Gregory. The funeral service was held Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the Berean Church in Gregory. Burial followed at the Hillview Cemetery in Dallas.

Judith K. (Leonard) Whitepipe was born Feb. 4, 1944, to John and Sylvia (Micanek) Leonard, Sr., in Burke.

Judie grew up on a farm southeast of Lucas. She went to elementary school at the Leonard School one-room schoolhouse near Lucas. She attended high school in Burke until she met her first husband, Richard Crouch. To this union, one son, Tim, was born.

After her divorce, Judith moved back home and graduated from Gregory High School. She moved to Mitchell after graduation and completed nurse’s training as a Licensed Practical Nurse from the Methodist Hospital. While living in Mitchell, Judie had her second child, her oldest daughter, Carrie.

Judie moved back to Gregory and started her career as an LPN at the Rosebud Nursing Home. She then met her second husband, Elmer Whitepipe. They were married on Jan. 23, 1971. With Elmer, Judie had her third child, Suzanne.

In 1987, Judie and Elmer took in their grandchildren, Jennifer and John, and raised them as their own. They raised their family in Gregory until moving to Dallas in 1990. Judie lived in their home until 2015, when she moved to an apartment in Gregory due to her heart condition.

Judie was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in July 1996, which led her to retire from nursing after 25 years at the Rosebud Nursing Home. Once her health stabilized, she volunteered at the school, church and the Wear ‘N Wears Thrift Store. She also worked as the Dallas City Finance Officer for many years.

Judith was a member of the Berean Fundamentalist Church in Gregory. She attended Bible study regularly and enjoyed playing cards and taking shopping trips with her friends.

Judie’s greatest source of pride and joy were her grandchildren, and she loved spending time with them.

Judie is survived by her daughters, Carrie (Jeff) Howard of Woonsocket, Suzanne (Jim) Kahler of Plankinton, and Jennifer (Jason) Knight of Three Rivers, Mich.; her son, John Crouch of Constantine, Mich.; eight grandchildren; her brother, John (Cheryl) Leonard, Jr.; her sisters-in-law, Lillian Middlesworth and Gayle Whitepipe; her brothers-in-law, Gary Whitepipe and Bryan Whitepipe; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer; her mother- and father-in-law, Lorraine and Charles Whitepipe, Sr.; her brothers-in-law, Wayne Middlesworth and Charles Whitepipe, Jr.; and her son, Tim.