Judith Radtke

Judith “Judy” Ann Radtke,83, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank, SD. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Central Church in Milbank. Pastor Thom Bowsher will officiate. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Burial will be at the Milbank City Cemetery. 

The service will be live streamed, recorded and viewable below this obituary.

Casket Bearers will be Michael Christians, Keith Christians, Doug Feiock, Travis Tietjen, Jerry Pauli, and Clayton Whiting.

Judith Ann (Bucholz) Radtke was born on her parents’ farm in Lac qui Parle County, MN, on January 18, 1941, to William O. and Lydia L. (Grube) Bucholz. When she was a baby, the family moved to their new family farm in Big Stone County, MN. She spent her childhood there with her parents, seven sisters, and three brothers. She was baptized and confirmed at the St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bellingham, MN.

She attended school in Odessa, MN, and graduated from Odessa High School on May 28, 1959. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper for the 7 Up Bottling Company in Ortonville, MN, for eight years.

In February of 1968, Judy started working at Milbank Mutual Insurance Company as a clerical clerk. She retired from State Auto Insurance Company in February 2001 as a farm underwriter. Judy enjoyed her jobs and working with her friends for 33 years.

In 1962, Judy met her future husband, and on February 9, 1964, she married Arthur “Art” Radtke at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bellingham, MN. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2014.

The couple lived their married life on their farm in Grant Center Township, Grant County, SD. She helped Art with field work and the beef cattle whenever she could.

She was a member of the Twin Brooks Threshing Show, which Art helped get started. Together, they made the grain bundles, loaded bundle wagons, and moved the threshing machines, tractors, and grain wagons to the showgrounds.

Judy had a collection of various owls. She said whenever Art got another John Deere tractor, she would get another owl. The couple enjoyed traveling on motorcoach tours. They went to Nashville several times to see the Grand Ole Opry. They also traveled to Branson, Alaska, New York City, Washington D.C., Niagara Falls, Canada, the West Coast, and the Black Hills to name a few.

Judy is survived by two sisters: Shirley Christians of Twin Brooks, SD and Faye Runge of Eagan, MN; sister-in-law: Rose Bucholz; brother-in-law: Francis Boogaard; and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Arthur “Art” Radtke; her parents: William and Lydia Bucholz; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Ethel (Howard) Benshoof, Lois (Ned) Gloege, Janice Johnson, Jorgine Boogaard, Darlene Blocker (Earl Christians, Morris Blocker), Arlo Christians, and Wallace Runge; brothers and sister-in-law: Willard Bucholz, Rodger Bucholz and Sidney (Deanne) Bucholz; and some nephews and nieces.