Judith Spitzer

Judith “Judy” Ann (Leberman) Spitzer, was born on January 6, 1939, in Leola, South Dakota. Her parents were the late Wilmer and Emilia (Martel) Leberman.

Judy graduated from Leola High School with the Class of 1957. Following graduation, she worked as a nursing assistant at the Leola Hospital, where her warm heart and caring nature touched many.

On March 20, 1960, she was united in marriage to Reinhold “Reiny” Spitzer at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Leola, South Dakota. Together, they began their married life on a farm in Westport, South Dakota. This union was blessed with four children: Jenny, Wade, Penny, and Sandra.

In April 1971, they moved east of Nimrod, Minnesota.  In 1977, they relocated to a farm near Verndale, Minnesota where they continued farming and expanded their dairy herd. In the fall of 1981, they moved to a farm west of Bertha, Minnesota, where they transitioned from dairy cows to crop farming. Judy and Reiny retired in 1999 and moved to Missouri for a time before settling in Lake Norden, South Dakota. Following Reiny’s passing on October 24, 2007, Judy returned to her hometown of Leola, South Dakota.

Judy cherished her family, her faith, and the simple joys of farm life. She enjoyed embroidery, cooking, feeding calves, puzzles, and reading—but most of all, she treasured the time she spent with her family and friends. She will be remembered for her kindness, strength, and unwavering dedication to those she loved.

She is survived by her children: Jenny (Rick) Pederson of Nimrod, Minnesota; Wade (Teresa Shirley) Spitzer of Osceola, Iowa; Penny (Rick) Kramer of Monticello, Minnesota; and Sandra (Greg) Foley of Green Spring, West Virginia; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and her siblings Phyllis Wetzel, Alice Leberman, Charlie Leberman, and Gary (Joyce) Leberman.

Judy passed away on December 9, 2025, at the age of 86, at the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Reiny; her brother Leon Leberman; brother-in-law Ben Wetzel; and sister-in-law Lani Leberman.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Leola, South Dakota, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. and a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Green Mound Cemetery in Leola, South Dakota.

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