Judy’s Obituary Obituary Judy Lynn Balmforth, 77 Judy Lynn Balmforth, 77, of Blackfoot, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Gem Village Assisted Living. Judy was born Judith Lynn Balmforth on November 1, 1941, in Shelley, Idaho, at Eaton Maternity Home, to Rosa Gibbons Balmforth and Dewain Balmforth of Woodville, Idaho, (Shelley area). She weighed only 3 lbs 4 oz!
As she grew up, she attended schools in Osgood and Idaho Falls. She had perfect attendance throughout her school years. Since she was the oldest child, she helped Dad with chores and farming and outside work.
Luane and Susann helped Mother in the house. Two more siblings were born, Ted Dewain in 1955 and Eva Marie in 1957. That year, they bought a farm in Pingree, Idaho and moved there.
They spent a lot of time picking rocks so a lot of hard work, laughter and jokes came about because of it. Judy graduated from Snake River High School in 1960 and by this time they had sold the farm and moved to Moreland. Her parents worked at American Potato Co
She went to college and a trade school, then moved to Salt Lake City where she worked at various jobs; one for 15 years-Atwood Co., assembling camper stoves. Uncle Steve Balmforth said, “I was in Salt Lake so stopped to visit her. We met at a restaurant.
She ate three times what I ate”. Judy, single her whole life, didn’t cook much, so this was a real treat! Judy raised Siamese cats.
Her pride and joy was Sasha, a prize-winning Persian. And, of course, she had horses! She loved to ride out on Antelope Island and invited her sisters to ride with her.
Her two horses, Pal, a Palamino, and Brahenia, a Paso Fino, were her best pals! Judy belonged to a Paso Fino Horse Club and the Denim Riders at Tautphaus Park. She learned Spanish and American Sign Language in her spare time.
She and her friend, Daryl, spent a lot of happy times together, riding horses and going to Daryl’s cabin. When her health began to fail, her sisters, Eve and Luane, took her home to Idaho so they could visit her more often. They mourned her loss, when, in 2018 now without hearing aids and blind, she could no longer recognize them when they came.
So, they rejoiced when she finally went to Heaven on January 16, 2019, and escaped the old body that held her prisoner. She is free at last! Judy is survived by her sister, Luane (Gayle) Cox of Blackfoot; her brother, Ted (Sandra) Balmforth of Driggs; and her sister Eve (Mike) Dodge of Blackfoot; her aunt, Catherine Gibbons of Meridian; her uncle Doug Gibbons of Marysville, WA; her uncle Stephen Balmforth of West Jordan UT; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Susann, and sister-in-law Pennie Balmforth, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 24, 2019 at the Moreland LDS Church, 740 W 175 N, Blackfoot. The family will meet with friends from 6-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at the Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot and again for one hour prior to the service at the church.
Interment will follow at the Moreland Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared at www. hawkerfuneralhome.com.
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