Judy Bland

Judy Bland, 64, of Lewistown, passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2014, at Highland Cemetery in Havre, with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating.

An informal reception will follow at the AmericInn, in the Perk.

The family has requested that memorials be made to the Montana Chapter of NAMI, 616 Helena Ave. Ste. 218, Helena, MT 59601. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements and you can leave your memories and condolences for the family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Judy was born on Dec. 10, 1949, in Cardwell, MT, to Andrew and Ruby (Porter) Panksvitch. She was raised near Butte, graduating from high school in Whitehall. Judy married Charlie Stimson in 1970 in Missoula, and two sons were born to that union. They were divorced in 1976. While raising her children, Judy continued her education, working hard to obtain her bachelor's degree in education in 1980. In 1981, she married Jerry Bland in Missoula, and their union was blessed with a daughter. They later divorced. In 1986, Judy retired from teaching due to medical reasons. She married Richard Church in Havre in 2002. They divorced but remained close until his death.

Judy was a very sociable woman who loved to laugh and found humor in anything and everything. Although retired from teaching, she never stopped teaching. She was always working on writing math books to guide teachers in reaching their students. It became a great passion to her. She was very family-oriented, always wanting to spend time with her children and grandchildren. On many occasions she verbalized her desires for everyone to live together. She often acted as a counselor to her children. She was always trying to help others, and was an active volunteer wherever she was needed during the '90s. Besides her writing, she loved music. Seldom was she without her headphones. She especially enjoyed listening to Lady Gaga with her grandchildren.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Ruby Pankovitch; her brothers, George and Jeff Pankovitch; and her former husbands, Charlie Stimson, Jerry Bland and Richard Church.

She is survived by her sons, Travis (Carie Wilber) and Konrad Stimson, all of Havre; her daughter, Ruby (Scott) Christian of Havre; her grandchildren, Danielle, Abigail and Noah; her sister, Sammi Sinclair of Whitehall; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.