Judith Ann Middleton nèe Krutz, age 83, died Friday, March 20, 2026, in her home in Maplewood, Minnesota. Judith was born April 8, 1942, to Melvin and Cozette Krutz in Hamburg, Iowa.

She attended high school in Rock Port, Missouri, where she graduated in 1960.

She then attended college at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. She was active in campus life, including music and her sorority, Sigma, Sigma, Sigma, both of which were a lifelong interest for her. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and maintained lifelong friendships from her years in school.

Judith married James G. Middleton in 1966 in Malibu, California. She and James eventually settled in Kearney, Nebraska. After James’ death, she divided her time between Kearney and Grand Lake, Colorado.

During her married life she remained active in the community as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Organization of Women, and several on-campus groups supporting students in academics. She worked as a teacher and as a financial planner for many years. During that time she placed her family first, as both a wife and mother.

She was also an active member of church and was gifted at needlework and painting. She also enjoyed reading, swimming, and quilting.

She is survived by her sister, Melva Linville, and her daughters, Annete Silvers and Mary Margaret Ducoulombier, Kansas City; her brother, Harold Krutz, and his sons, Michael Krutz and Eric Krutz, Rock Port, and Bryan Krutz, Ocala, Florida; and her cousins, Mike Randall, Olathe, Kansas, Mark Randall, Marion, Kansas, and Cindy Randall, Kansas City, Missouri. She is also survived by her daughter, Anna, Anna’s husband, Rick, Charlotte, North Carolina, and their children, Alana Crawley, Biddulph, UK, Joshua Fligge, Townsend, Montana, Elyzabeth Fligge, Helena, Montana, Alyssa Stovall and Trinity Stovall, Charlotte, and Elijah Sigmon, Miami, Florida; her son, Joseph, and his wife, Tamra, Superior, Colorado, and their children, Tate and Daphne, Superior; her son, James, and his wife, Christina, Maplewood, Minnesota, and their children, James and Mary; also by many friends and loved ones in all the places she lived. She will be missed. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Memorial services will be held this summer in Kearney, with a time and venue to be announced. She has requested to be interred with her husband in Kearney. Memorials are suggested at the National Parks Conservation Association (npca.org.)