Judith Kay (Provins) Walker

Judy Walker was born on a very cold January night in Valentine, Nebraska, in 1947. The car wouldn’t start, so her mom walked the few blocks to the hospital. Judy was the daughter of William Robert Provins, who served in the US Navy in WWII, and Geneva Young Provins. Following a 16-year battle with renal cell cancer, Judy passed away on February 21, 2025, at home surrounded by loved ones.

Judy was a Navy brat growing up in 32 different places before landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when her dad retired. She graduated from Manzano High School in Albuquerque and later earned her Medical Technologist degree from New Mexico State University. While at New Mexico State, she met her future husband, Frank, and they were married just after he graduated in 1967. She almost had second thoughts about marrying Frank because she liked moving around and seeing new places. Little did she know that he would be in the National Park Service for almost 40 years and when they retired in Bozeman in 2006, it would be their 26th house since they were married 57 years ago. Judy worked at a variety of laboratories and hospitals as she and Frank lived in 10 different national parks all across the country. Judy’s favorite was always Yellowstone where they lived three different times, which inspired her love of geysers.

Judy was an excellent crafts person, knitting all her own socks, constructing beautiful cross-stitch works, knitting gnomes, sewing quilts, and winning blue ribbons for her photography. She loved to play cribbage twice a day and SkipBo with her favorite person Frank. Having worked on hundreds of jigsaw puzzles, Judy was quite the expert. She particularly enjoyed her 15 years of therapeutic swimming with the 10 AM group at Eagle Mount. Judy loved classical music and was an avid reader. She had a very logical mind and was extremely intelligent and thoughtful about the world. Judy was often described as having pointed ears and green skin like Spock. Always up for an adventure, Judy now moves on to her next journey.

Judy had three children: Mark, Kathy, and Phillip. She is survived by her husband, Frank, of Bozeman; grandson, Elyas (Ashley); great-grandsons, Dietrich and Cecil; nephews, Doug (Tracy) and Phil (Tai); and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert, her sons, Mark and Phillip, and daughter Kathy.

Judy was cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, location to be determined.