Judy (Sprague) Baumgart, age 84, of Wessington Springs, died peacefully on Sunday April 19, 2026 at Avera Weskota Manor in Wessington Springs, South Dakota. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 9, 2026, at St. Wilfrid Catholic Church in Woonsocket. Inurnment will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Wessington Springs. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.
Judy was born on May 14, 1941 to Clarence and Inza (Avery) Sprague in Farmer, South Dakota. Judy married Melvin (Bud) Baumgart on November 7, 1958 in Mitchell, SD. They had five children: Randy, Donald, Brenda, Carmen and Jeff. Judy took care of her family as Bud drove gravel truck for highway construction until they settled on a farm near Alpena, SD in 1970. Judy worked tirelessly raising her kids, gardening, canning, and helping Bud with haying and harvesting crops until she went to work for 20+ years at Dakota Trails beef jerky plant, which eventually became Jack Link’s Beef Jerky in Alpena.
Judy is survived by her sons: Donald Baumgart of Alpena, SD and Jeff (Jaleen) Baumgart of Lakeland, FL; daughters: Brenda (Brent) Wiertzema of Sioux Falls, SD and Carmen Hillman of Baltic, SD; grandchildren: Collin (Megan) Baumgart of Wessington Springs, SD, Matthew Werkmeister of Shakopee, MN, Joshua (Meredith) Werkmeister of Chicago, IL, Caylene (CJ) Huber of Tea, SD, Garret Wiertzema of Sioux Falls, SD, Landen (Nicole) Hillman of Baltic, SD, Lane (Libby) Hillman of Victor, ID, Laci Hillman of Baltic, SD, Austin (Nicolette) Baumgart of Lakeland, FL, Peyton (Nelly) Baumgart of Lakeland, FL, and Madelyn Baumgart of Lakeland, FL; great grandchildren: Kinslee, Briggs, Colbie, Cadence, Baby W due in July, Baby H due in September, Amelia, Adeline, Alaina, Tymber, Olivia, and Oscar; special extended grandchildren: Lindsay, Sarah, McKayla, and Christa; brother: Doug Sprague; sisters: Doris Lorensen and Betty Schaefers.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents: Clarence and Inza; five brothers: Stanley, Herbert, Robert, Orville, and Donald; two sisters: Dorothy and Luella; husband: Bud; and son: Randy.
Judy suffered from dementia in her final years so her family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers. Memorials will be donated in honor of Judy to the Alzheimer’s Association in the hope of finding a cure.