JuDee Ann Koski Blockhus, 70, of Hinsdale, MT, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, February 25th, 2016, at Billings Clinic in Billings, MT. She was born July 18th, 1945 to Sam and Evelyn (Gisley) Koski, in Glasgow MT.
JuDee attended high school in Hinsdale MT and graduated in 1963. After high school, she attended Beauty School in Great Falls and followed that profession for a number of years. On December 24th, 1969, JuDee and her husband at the time, Don, welcomed their son Troy McKerrow.
In 1972 she started working for Buttrey’s Food Stores in Great Falls, MT and worked there for close to 20 years. While working at Buttrey’s Foods, she met and worked with numerous people who still call her friend. She later married Mel Wardell in 1973 and they raised Troy in Great Falls.
JuDee was her son’s number one fan as she followed his bowling, baseball and school sports careers. She was always proud of her son’s accomplishments. She presented her son with a scrapbook of all of his years of achievements, this last Christmas. She was one to keep memorabilia from all things important to her.
JuDee chose to return to her hometown of Hinsdale, MT to take care of her mother, who later passed away in 1991. She married Jon Blockhus in 1996 and they were married for 19 years. While in Hinsdale, JuDee was very active in the Lutheran Church, which her grandfather helped build. Her faith was very important to her. JuDee was always involved in the schools, and any community based activities.
JuDee constantly worked in her garden, focusing on her flowers, and making her home beautiful. She loved watching the birds outside of her kitchen window and owned many birdhouses and fed them and kept them happy. She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary, and most recently was District President for the American Legion Auxiliary. She belonged to many other local committees, providing lunches to groups, decorating Veteran gravesites, supporting sports, etc.
During her years in Hinsdale, she also worked for Albertson’s in Glasgow and after retirement continued to work cleaning friends and clients’ homes. She intended to “˜cut back’ once she turned 70, but she was just not one to say no, so continued to keep busy.
JuDee was preceded in death by her mother and father, Evelyn and Sam Koski, brother, James Koski (California), sister, Janice McInerney (Helena), and a sister Joyce, who passed away at a young age, uncle, Gene (Tuscon), aunt, Lucille (Indiana). JuDee is survived by her son, Troy Wardell and his fiancé Beth Glover, both of Lolo, MT, her brother, Jerry Koski (Glasgow), his wife Linda. Brother-in-law, Bob McInerney (Helena), sister-in-law, Michino (California) and her cousin, Marlene Petro (Florida). Special nephews, Paul Koski (Lisa) (Glasgow), Jeff Koski (Colleen) (Bozeman), Tim McInerney (Michelle) (Boise), Glenn Koski (Karen) (California) and niece, JuDee O’Donnell (Kent) (Billings). And many many close friends.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016 from 7:00 PM till 8:00 PM at the Hinsdale Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be Thursday, March 3rd, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Legion Hall with burial to follow at Hillview Cemetery all in Hinsdale, Montana.
Donations can be made in JuDee’s honor to the Hinsdale Community Cooperation Fund, PO Box 127 Hinsdale, MT 59241, Attn: Linda. This fund is used to provide scholarships to local students.