Judy Rustad

Judy Rustad, beloved wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and friend, 78, ofMalta, Mont., went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 4, 2020.

While visiting with friends in Polson, Mont., she fell, sustained an inoperable head injury, and passed away very unexpectedly in Missoula, Mont.

Judy was born a New Year’s baby on January 1st, 1942 to Robert and Violet Anderson in Glasgow, Mont. Being the first Anderson girl, Bob rode through the countryside on horseback to tell everyone how proud he was to have a daughter. She joined her older brother, Wes and parents on the Anderson family ranch north of Whitewater, Mont. Judy attended school in Whitewater before moving to Malta in 1950. While attending school in Malta, she met the love of her life, Cliff Rustad, in 1951. She graduated from Malta High School in 1959.

On October 10th, 1959, Judy married her best friend and life-partner, Cliff. They made their home on the Kropp family ranch north of Malta. On May 22nd, 1960, they welcomed their first daughter, June, to their new little family. One year later on May 31st, 1961, Laurie was welcomed into the world, and their perfect family was complete. They lived and worked on the family ranch until it sold in 1968, after which they moved to town. Judy spent her life taking care of Cliff and the girls.

In 1969 they started Hi-Line Auction, and have owned and operated it ever since.

It was Judy’s life’s goal to take care of people, and that she did better than anyone. She was the most selfless, caring, and loving person anyone could have ever known. Throughout her life she never met a stranger, and made friends everywhere she went. After meeting her for the first time, by the time you left her, she would know everything about you, your family, and your life because she genuinely cared. You would be exchanging phone numbers, and you would be lifelong friends forever. Judy wasn’t just a mom and grandma to her own kids and grandkids, but to everyone that she met along her life’s path. She was “Mom” and “Grandma Judy” to literally thousands of people.

Judy’s life revolved around her grandkids, Mindy, and Bryan. She and Cliff spent everywaking moment they could with them. Countless days and weeks were enjoyed not only at their home in Malta, but on many trips as well. All of the time that they spent at their place in Polson, on Flathead Lake, was their most favorite. Judy was the BEST grandma in the world! She took pride in her grandkids and nieces and nephews and talked about them every chance she got.

As Mindy and Bryan grew up and started families of their own, their kids became the light of her life. She never missed a birthday, a Christmas program, a sporting event, holiday or special event that her great-grandkids were in. It was never too far to travel to be there for them, for anything and everything.

Judy was always very strong in her faith - teaching all of us to pray and talk to God. She prayed for all of us every chance she got. Judy was very open about her faith, always inviting people to church or offering to pray for them or with them. Anyone that was alone during holidays or difficult times was always welcome in their home and treated like family. Judy knew where she was going and that was to heaven to join her parents and be with her Lord and Savior.

Judy is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 60 years, Cliff. Daughters, June (Frank) Durbian and Laurie Rustad, adopted son, Randy Shores. Grandchildren, Mindy (Phil) Cramer, Bryan (Bri) Shores. Great-grandchildren, Abby and Hayden Cramer, Dax, Demi, Mila and Sienna Shores. Brother Wes (Marlene) Anderson, and sister, Janice (Jim) Knudsen.

Visitation was Friday, May 8, 2020 at 7 p.m. at Malta Wilderness Home.

Funeral Services were Saturday, May 9, 2020, at 2 p.m. at the Wilderness Funeral Home.