Judith Marie Scheller

life story

Judy Marie Scheller, age 83 of Welch, MN, passed away August 9, 2025, at the Lake City Care Center. Judy was born December 7, 1942, in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of Don and Jerry Jamesgaard.

While attending high school in suburban Bloomington, Judy fueled her growing love for horses with a job at Smith Farms, a local stable in her hometown. Judy graduated from Bloomington Senior High School June 8, 1960, and soon went to work for REA (Railway Air Express) at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport in the employee payroll department, where she worked for the next 12 years.

In 1964, Judy took a few days off of work and boarded an Amtrak train, headed for Lexington, KY, to the heart of thoroughbred country; much to the surprise of her family, Judy intended to buy her first horse. She returned home with a very tall yearling filly that would be the first of many beloved horses in Judy’s future.

In 1966, Judy met Larry Scheller, a handsome, young cowboy from Windom, MN, at a horse auction. He asked Judy for her phone number, but little did he know that young Judy was only there for the horses. Judy gave her future husband a fake number - which a friend of hers discovered and promptly provided Larry with the right phone number.

Judy and Larry were married November 30, 1968, in Bloomington. Together they purchased ten acres of land in Cottage Grove, MN, and welcomed their first three children - Janelle, Brenna, and Troy. In 1978, they purchased bare land in Welch, MN, built a home together, and welcomed their fourth child, Broch. It was here that Judy called home for the next 45 years.

Everyone who knew Judy knew how much she loved being outside on her farm with her family, her animals, and beautiful flower gardens. Judy was a devoted 4-H leader and a member of the Goodhue County Horticultural Society where she enjoyed many garden tours with fellow garden enthusiasts and friends. Anyone that stopped for a visit could always count on a fresh supply of Judy’s perfect chocolate chip cookies. (She claimed she simply used the Tollhouse recipe, but nobody believed her because her cookies always tasted so much better!)

Judy was preceded in death by her parents Don and Jerry Jamesgaard; sisters Jill and Carol Ann; granddaughter Lily. She is survived by her beloved husband Larry; daughters Janelle (Jim - husband) Murray; and Brenna (Nathan - husband) O’Connor; sons Troy and Broch; two grandchildren Andrew and Kendra.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 16 from 3:00-4:00 PM at the Lake City Care Center. A service from 4:00-4:30 PM will be followed with a reception. Lake City Care Center, 500 W. Grant St., Lake City, MN 55041.

memorial service

Visitation

August 16, 2025

Mayo Clinic Health System - Lake City 500 W Grant St, Lake City, MN 55041, USA