Obituary of Judy Howdek

Judy Howdek of Shoreview, MN, passed away on Monday, January 14, 2019 at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, MN. She was born Margaret Jewel Evans on October 22, 1936 in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended David Lipscomb High School, graduating in 1953. She was awarded the prestigious honor society of the Quill and Scroll as the Features Editor for her high school newspaper. She enrolled at Vanderbilt University for engineering at age 16 and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She married in 1954 and in 1960 she moved to Afton, MN when her husband was transferred there for his job. She was a sensation with her charming Southern accent and fun-loving ways and she quickly was embraced by her new community. She joined the Women’s League of Voters and wrote the weekly bulletin for her church. She was an avid reader and part-time docent with the Minnesota Museum of Art and loved attending the symphony. She worked for many years at Jefferson Lines, and Tetra Pak and 3M. In retirement she traveled with her special companion and friend, John Utgard, when he was working in Italy and Sweden where, once again, she made many friends. They spent winters together on the Gulf Coast where they indulged their shared interest in collecting primitive Americana and rustic antiques. She is survived by her sister, Joyce Barrett of White House Tennessee. She will remain in the hearts of her three children; Cynthia (Michael), Richard (Toni) and Mariah (Mark), five grandchildren; Jacqueline (Chris), Eric, Katrina, Ryan and Alexandra and 2 great grandchildren; Stratton and Ellie. She was preceded in death by her parents James and Grace Evans and will be buried beside them in Spring Hill Cemetery in Tennessee.