Judith Herink

Judith Catherine Herink (Judy) was born on August 7, 1944, in New Rockford, North Dakota, to Tom and Mary (Laber) White. She passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, at her home in Bellevue, surrounded by her loving family.

Judy grew up in Carrington, North Dakota, where she graduated from high school, and later studied at UND Fargo. While raising her children, she earned a degree in nursing home administration from Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska.

She married Jerome Herink on September 12, 1964, in Carrington. Together they farmed south of Leigh, Nebraska, and were married for 30 years. They raised six children: Tom, Jane Ingram (Thomas), Ann Haggerty (Kevin), Joe (Theresa), Lynn Herink (Jon Gordon), and Jim (Lauren).

A dedicated farm wife and community leader, Judy founded and led the Keynoters, a local singing group that performed at Memorial Day events and community gatherings across the region.

Judy took great pride in her career in nursing home administration, where she compassionately led facilities in both Clarkson, Nebraska, and Rapid City, South Dakota. She found deep fulfillment in supporting elderly individuals as they navigated the final stages of life. She also managed the San Diego Vein Institute for 3 years prior to moving to Salt Lake City for retirement.

Following her retirement, Judy met her husband, Jim Monson, who was retired from the U. S. Army and from teaching. They were married on October 6, 2009, and were together until his passing in 2017. Together they embraced a life of adventure and travel—spending winters in Yuma, Arizona, and summers in Utah. In Yuma, Judy became a dedicated and respected leader within their community, continuing her lifelong commitment to service and connection. She was honored to be invited to deliver a homily at a Mormon temple in Bountiful, Utah—an extraordinary invitation for a non-Mormon speaker and a moment of pride in her life.

In Yuma, she immersed herself in quilting, water aerobics, volunteering during tax season, and teaching sewing to young military spouses at the nearby Marine Corps Air Station. Many of her award-winning quilts were later donated to charitable causes. When she moved from Yuma to Omaha in early 2024, she brought along six sewing machines—testament to her passion for her craft.

In her later years, Judy became increasingly politically active. She handwrote thousands of letters before the 2020 and 2024 elections in support of candidates who shared her concern for responsible and accountable government, and for social and economic justice. Though her strongly held opinions sometimes strained relationships, she never regretted her convictions or her efforts.

After overcoming kidney cancer in 2022, Judy was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2023. Despite intense pain in her final months, her wit and sharp intellect remained intact. She will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her six children, twenty-three grandchildren, and five

great-grandchildren—with one more on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, and her brother Glyndon.

A celebration of life will be held on July 19th at 2:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m., at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home 5701 Center St., Omaha, NE 68106. The celebration of life will be live streamed via https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c25079156663680

Memorial contributions may be sent to The American Cancer Society.