Judith Ann Schjei

Judith “Judy” A. Schjei, age 85, of Monticello, formerly of Alexandria, died on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at her home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Church of St. Mary in Alexandria with Father Dan Ruprecht officiating. Entombment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery Columbarium.

Visitation is one hour prior to the service.

Judith Ann was born on October 11, 1940, to Wilbert and Olivia (Suchy) Klimek in Alexandria. She grew up as an only child on her parent’s farm in rural Alexandria. Along with her love for farm animals, she loved to read and was her dad’s right-hand girl on the farm. She inherited her mother’s green thumb and grew to love to grow flowers. She attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Alexandria High School. Following high school, she moved to Minneapolis and attended Minnesota School of Business.

Judy was united in marriage to Orris Odell Schjei on June 11, 1960, at the Church of St. Mary. After their marriage, they moved to Fargo where Judy worked for Honeywell. They were asked to move back to Brandon and take over the Schjei family farm where they started their family, giving birth to five children in five years. In 1967, the family moved to Alexandria where Judy worked in the office of a local business until she and Orris bought a neighborhood grocery store by Lake Le Homme Dieu. Judy then became the familiar face of Schjei’s Grocery. She loved visiting with her customers and keeping the shelves stocked. Along with running the store, Judy kept the household running with her gardening, cooking, hauling kids to activities and becoming a foster parent. She had a soft spot for animals and kids. She was also a devoted daughter to her aging parents. Following the death of her father, Orris and Judy found it in their hearts to move Olivia, Judy’s mom, into their home where they cared for her the next eight years. After the kids got married and moved away, the store was sold and Judy worked as a deli manager in town.

Once retired, Judy became more involved in her community. She helped to put on blood drives with the Red Cross, was a member of Daughters of Isabella, and a Red Hat group. She met monthly with her high school friends calling themselves the “Classy Ladies”.

Judy was an impeccable bookkeeper. She kept the family household books; was typically the bookkeeper for any organization she belonged to and maintained a calendar with birthdays which she continued to refer to and send out birthday cards until the end. She along with Orris loved the Christmas season. She was excited that she got her cards done and presents bought and was ready for this Christmas season.

Judy moved to an assisted living facility in Monticello to be closer to her kids after Orris passed away in 2024. She was at Willows Landing for 1 year and 9 months and loved her apartment, with a balcony that she could look out and watch birds and wildlife. She loved the new friends she made and the food. She also discovered that she liked to paint and was currently working on a painting.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Anne; son, Steve; infant son, Daniel; daughter-in-law, Barb Schjei; great-granddaughter, Olivia and husband Orris.

Judy is survived by her daughter, Peggy {Bill} Blenkush of Becker; son, Tim Schjei of Princeton; eight grandchildren, Mindy {Thrush} Bogie, Nicholas Bullick, Joe {Natalie} Blenkush, Alex {Morgan}Blenkush, Rachel {Brian} Russell, Teila {Jeremy} Doughlas, Mariah {Patrick} Triemert, and Adam Schjei; 12 great-grandchildren, Brandan, Charlie, Ella, Norine, Jonah, Ellie, Micah, Maverick, Macy, Nora, Bennett and Ada; along with many nieces and nephews.

Urn bearers are Joe Blenkush, Adam Schjei, Brandan Bogie and Charlie Bogie.