Judith Marie Larsen, 67 of Spearfish passed away unexpectedly September 21, 2012 in Portland, Oregon while vacationing.

Judi was born on September 18, 1945 in Sibley, IA, the daughter of Theodore and Coba (Calsbeek) Gruis. She attended high school in Sibley and graduated from nurses training at Sioux Valley Hospital in 1966. During her nursing career she was a hospital, nursing home, and clinic nurse. Her nursing career was put on hold to raise her children. The most treasured of all jobs was the privilege of being a stay at home mom, and she loved to rock babies.

While working in Williston, ND she met her husband Merlin and was married on August 15, 1969 in Sibley, to this union three children were born: Brent, Kendra and Ryan.

Left to mourn her passing is her husband, Merlin, her children; Brent (Michelle) Larsen of Spearfish, Kendra (Francis) and grandson Matthew Muraya of Arlington, VA, and Ryan (Juli) Larsen of Vermillion, SD: and her siblings, Margaret Buss, Auburn, WA, Joyce (Clarence) Jurrens, Fulda, MN, Carol (Wayne) Nelson, Chapin, SC, Richard (Cheryl) Gruis, Sheldon, IA, Ray (Cheryl) Gruis, Sibley, IA, Calvin Gruis, Falling Waters, WV and Loren Gruis, Sibley, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law John Buss.

A prayer service will be held at 7:00 P.M., Thursday, September 27, 2012 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 A.M., on Friday, September 28, 2012 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Spearfish with Reverend Gene Bauman officiating. Burial will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery. A memorial has been established.