MARCH 19, 1967 — MARCH 28, 2026
Gregg Albert Judstra, 59, of Mitchell, South Dakota, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 28, 2026, at his home in Mitchell. Visitation will be Thursday, April 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 3, at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Wessington Springs. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.
Gregg was born March 19, 1967, to Al and Mary Lou (Wenzel Cosby) Judstra and raised in Wessington Springs.
He was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church, developed his exceptional work ethic at Jerry’s Food Store, and after graduating from Wessington Springs High School in 1986, played baseball for Dakota Weslyan University for a time. After short stints at the Coastto- Coast warehouse and as a chef at the Staurolite Inn Restaurant in Brookings, he settled in Mitchell.
Gregg went to work for LifeQuest in the early 1990s, took a short break to work at Cabela’s when it was new, and then returned to LifeQuest. He grew to love the people he served and made a career of it, continuing at LifeQuest until his death.
He was a lifelong, loyal fan of the Celtics, Vikings, and Reds, and in this age of LiveTicketTv and Wi-Fi, had been following the Wessington Springs Spartans boys’ and girls’ basketball teams since 2020. He threw team darts for some years, making multiple trips to national tournaments in Las Vegas. And he found a home and community at the local VFW in its staff and clientele.
Gregg married Angela Locken in 1994 with two daughters born of that union. He loved nothing and no one more than his daughters, Katelyn and Brooklyn. From rounds of Yahtzee to attending volleyball and basketball games, he enjoyed their transition into the beautiful young women they’ve become. He spoke of them to anyone who would listen with a twinkle in his eye and a pride and joy he couldn’t contain.
His granddaughter, Addilyn, was truly the light of his life, and the bond they shared was something he treasured. He was looking forward to welcoming his second granddaughter into the world, already holding much love for her and embracing the joy of being a grandpa all over again.
It’s been said Gregg lived well, but more specifically, Gregg loved well — all people, no matter their background, history, or current condition. His love for humanity, and especially for his family, was constant and unwavering, and will be his legacy.
Preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, his parents, and a niece, he is survived by daughters Katelyn (Jake) Whitlock and granddaughter Addilyn, Castlewood; Brooklyn (Sawyer Pals) Judstra, Sioux Falls; siblings Dan (Nita) Cosby, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Linda Cosby, Wessington Springs; and Donna Cosby, Brookings; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, two with whom he was raised more like brothers, Kurt and Dustin Evans.