Gertrude "Judy" Eixenberger, 81, Sturgis, died Monday, July 2, 2007, at the Golden Living Center in Rapid City.

Funeral services were Friday, July 6, 2007, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, with the Rev. Arnold Kari officiating. Burial followed at Saint Aloysius Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Sturgis Little League Baseball program.

Judy was born Jan. 23, 1926, at Wise, Va., to Willard and Ellen (Richmond) Baldwin. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Kingsport, Tenn., where she attended school and graduated from Bennett Dobson High School in 1944. She then worked for Allen's Jewelry Store for several years.

Judy married Maurice "Ike" Eixenberger on Nov. 13, 1948, at Kingsport, Tenn. Following their marriage, they lived in Kingsport, Tenn., for a short time and in June 1949, they moved to Belle Fourche. In January of 1950, they moved to Sturgis. In October of 1964, Judy went to work at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center until 1969. From 1969 until 1973, she ran a foster home for veterans. In 1973, she worked for Wingspread, a division of Sky Ranch for Boys.

Judy loved to cook and was well known for her talent in the kitchen. She was a fan of youth sports in Sturgis and was the "Honorary Grandma" for the eighth-grade boys' basketball and baseball teams. Her "boys" will be seniors at Sturgis Brown High School this year.

Judy was an avid bowler and was a former member of the VFW Auxiliary in Sturgis. Most of all, she loved her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her sons, James Eixenberger, Newell, Ed Eixenberger, Rapid City, John Eixenberger and his wife Roze, Sturgis, and Max Eixenberger and his wife Donna, Sturgis; daughters, Annette Eixenberger, Sturtevant, Wis., and Mary Ellen Murray, Sturgis; sisters, Mary Crawford, Raytown, Mo., and Anna Richardson, Mesquite, Texas; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and her best friend, Norma Lore, Sturgis.

She was preceded in death by her husband; three sons, Ronald, Jerry and Frank; and two brothers.