Judith Neu

Judith Hannah White Neu passed away under hospice care at St. Patrick’s Hospital, Missoula on Saturday, September 22, 2018. She was surrounded by family.

Judi Neu was born Sept. 29, 1941 in New Castle, Indiana. Raised by parents Howard and Phyllis White, she enjoyed a traditional mid-west childhood with sisters Jayne and Joan. She loved sharing family stories from the Hoosier State, including growing up on a farm and completing nurse’s training after high school.

Judi married Dr. Don Joyner in 1964. In 1969, they relocated to Great Falls, Montana with their young sons. In 1981, they divorced and Judi continued to raise three energetic boys, Mark, Tim and Jim.

A year later, mutual friends arranged a date for Judi with Great Falls businessman, Clyde Neu. As their relationship developed, he accepted the role of a devoted stepfather blessed with Judi’s unconditional love, talent and cooking finesse. They married on Feb. 21, 1982 and continued raising their sons in Great Falls.

In 1989, with three sons in college, the Neus moved to Billings where they spent 12 years. In 2001, the couple moved to Missoula where they were closer to two sons and three grandchildren. Judi and Clyde made many trips to Missouri in years that followed to see Mark and his four daughters.

Whether in Great Falls, Billings or Missoula, family and friends were frequent guests at Judi’s dinner parties. Casual or more-involved, any meal or pot luck dish prepared by Judi for UM Business School Functions was unforgettable,

Judi leaves her family with dozens of cookbooks and an extensive file of her ‘personal best’ recipes along with hand painted holiday accessories and decorations, most of which she created herself.

She is survived by husband, Clyde, her three sons, their wives, children and grandchildren: Mark and his daughters Hannah (Nate) Hackney, their sons Jack, Jude and Leo; Lauren (Shaw) Robertson; Katelyn (Caleb) Vickers, their twin daughters Sadie and Stacie; Hope (Joe) Szklarski; Tim and Jennifer Joyner, and their children Avery and Mark; and, Jim and Amy Joyner, and son Jackson.

Judi is survived as well by several nieces and nephews; brother-in-law Jim Neu and wife Cathe; brother-in-law David Neu; and, brother-in-law Marvin Childress.

Judi was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Jayne, and brother-in-law, Clay Razor; sister Joan Childress; and, in-laws, Clyde Sr., and Doris Neu.

The family would like to thank those doctors and staff at St. Patrick Hospital who assisted Judi in hospice care, along with Consumer Direct Hospice, and caregivers Liz Houston and Lacey Frost.

A vigil service will be held at 7:00 pm Wednesday with Mass of the Resurrection celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 1475 Eaton Street, with Rev. Edward Hislop as celebrant. Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s’ choice.