Judith "Judi" Rae Lydell

JUDITH RAE “Judi” LYDELL

December 13, 1946 – February 9, 2019

                Judith Rae “Judi” Lydell, age 72, a longtime Osage, MN area resident, passed away in her sleep at her home on Saturday, February 9, 2019. 

                Judi was born on December 13, 1946 in Detroit Lakes, MN to Walter and Rachel (Gandesbury) Stanton.  Judi was born a twin to her brother Jim and was one of six children born of the union of Walter and Rachel.  She grew up on her parent’s dairy farm near Frazee, MN where she attended public schools and graduated from the Frazee High School. 

                She was united in marriage to Rodney A. Lydell on January 31, 1975 in Sisseton, SD, becoming a step-mother to Todd, Terry and Tim.  A son, Ryan, completed their family.  

                Judi began her working career with Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Detroit Lakes and later in Fargo, ND in a career that spanned 20 years.   Over the years, she commuted many thousands of miles to work in Fargo.  In the mid 1990’s, she began working for Lamb-Weston-RDO Frozen Foods in the Human Resources department.  Judi would work in that capacity for twelve years.  Both Judi and Rod retired in 2006.

                Judi’s life was packed full of enthusiasm and adventure.  She was an incredible cook and proficient baker whose fish fries were legendary, drawing friends and family from afar.  Each deer hunting season she would arise at three AM to begin preparing breakfast for her house full of hunters, often continue to cook until late at night preparing food for the following day.  The hunters always looked forward to Judi’s cooking and hospitality. 

                She enjoyed processing garden produce and nature’s abundant fruit into jams and jellies.  The hundreds of quarts preserved for her family were a thing of beauty.  Judi and Rod made fishing a priority and Judi loved to spend countless hours in the boat catching their limits on the many Minnesota lakes that Rod knows like the back of his hand.

                 Judi was also a very skilled golfer and in spite of their busy schedules, she and Rod would make time to golf 2-3 rounds every week.  She also enjoyed bowling and was part of the Park Rapids Women’s Bowling League for many years.  Additionally, Judi found time to follow her favorite sports teams, the Minnesota Twins and Vikings and was one of their most enthusiastic and optimistic fans. 

                She thanked God for each day that he gave her on this earth by living those days as fully as she could and helping so many people along her way.

                She will be lovingly remembered by her husband and soulmate, Rod of Osage; her son, Ryan Lydell of Park Rapids; her three step-sons: Todd (Lori) Lydell of Pennsylvania, Terry (Mona) Lydell of Washington State, Tim Lydell of Park Rapids, MN, her granddaughter, Malayza and her grandson, William;  two precious great-granddaughters: Paisley and Peighton; her sister, Doris (Gene) Schermerhorn of Callaway, MN; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

                Judi was preceded in death by her parents; her three brothers: Jim, Larry and Don and her younger sister, Brenda who also unexpectedly died on the same exact day of Judi’s death.

                Services are set for 1 PM Friday, February 15, 2019 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN.  A time of visiting will be held beginning one hour prior to the service and will continue immediately after the service during a time of food and fellowship. 

To view the video tribute or to leave online condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com