Judy Marie Sanford, age 74 of Spring Valley, formally of Prescott, died peacefully Sunday, July 10, 2022 at the Spring Valley Villas. Judy was born on August 3, 1947 in Hastings Minnesota; the daughter of Henry and Leona (Clark) Wright. She was raised in Hastings where she graduated from high school in the class of 1965. On February 19, 1966 she walked down the aisle and said “I do” to her best friend and soulmate Orval ‘Roger’ Sanford in Hastings. Their marriage was blessed with a daughter, Tammy; and three sons Chuck, Bob, and Bill. Roger was a 3M’er for over 40 years. Judy for the most part was a stay at home mom. However, as the children were older, she worked at Ptacek’s Grocery and Saint Croix Dale as a dietary aide. Although she would tell you her life was blessed many times over, she certainly worked through some personal trials and tribulations. Judy persevered through anxiety and depression at a time when society did not recognize or acknowledge how difficult it can be to manage. Today, there is a much better understanding on how anxiety and depression can alter one’s life, primarily because of people like Judy who helped create awareness and understanding of this illness.

She was all about her family and lit up like a Christmas tree when she was around her grandchildren.  She was not only motherly to her own children; but also served as a proxy mom to her nieces/nephews and her kids friends that come over to the house. She loved entertaining and cooked for an army, literally! If you went home hungry, it was your own fault. She enjoyed gardening earlier in life, watching a good Hallmark movie or working on her adult coloring books with vivid colors. She also appreciated the beauty of butterflies and a singing cardinal. Furthermore, she created many memories spending time at the family cabin on Pear Lake near Minong. She always looked forward to spa day with Tammy. Tammy would do up her hair and paint her nails; followed by putting jigsaw puzzles together. She so loved being pampered by Tammy. She was more than a mom; she was her best friend.

She will forever live on ion the hearts of her daughter, Tammy (Joe) Rose of Baldwin; sons, Chuck (Erin) Sanford of Prescott, Bob (Sandra) Sanford of Duluth, and Bill (Shari) Sanford of Prescott; grandchildren: Zachary Sanford, Jordon (Madilyn) Sanford, Jacob (Melissa) Sanford, Brittany Sanford, Justin (Zizhan) Rose, Ty Sanford, Delaney Sanford, Rylie Sanford, Payton Sanford, and Brayden Sanford; great grandchildren Matthew, Blake, and Eva. Her husband Roger; siblings Richard (Karen) Wright, Henry ‘Hank’ Wright, Barb Wright, Alta (Robert) Johnson precede her in death.

A memorial gathering for Judy Sanford will be held on Thursday, July 14th from 3pm to 5pm with a memorial service to conclude at 5pm at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1339 Orrin Road, in Prescott.  Interment will be a fitting and meaningful scattering of her ashes at her favorite places. Memorials preferred to the discretion of the family. Cremation and memorial services have been trusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Prescott.