Judy Caroline Ploghoft

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Judy Caroline Ploghoft, 82, who passed away Jan. 31, 2024, while at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. after suffering a stroke. She was a resident of Moses Lake, Wash. at the time of her passing. 

The oldest of six children of Earnest and Ethel Bendixen Montague, Judy was born Feb. 24, 1941, in Ontario, Ore. To find farmwork, the family moved between Vale and Nyssa, Ore., before settling in Payette, Idaho. Judy attended Eastside and Westside elementary schools in Payette. She also attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized Sept. 18, 1949, in Ontario, Ore. The family moved to Moses Lake, Wash. in 1952. Hers was the first class to attend Chief Moses Middle School and she was part of the 1959 graduating class of the newly-built Moses Lake High School. She was also a 1959 graduate of the Grand Coulee Stake Seminary Program. 

After graduation, she worked at the Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake until 1963 when she met Larry Dale Ploghoft, who had recently moved there. They were inseparable after their first date and were married July 20, 1963, at the Rose Street Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a wedding dress that she designed and made. The couple moved to Bellingham, Wash., where their first child Brian was born in 1964. After moving back to Moses Lake, their second son Mark was born in 1967.

Judy was a supportive wife of Larry’s career in the tire business that took them all across the U.S. and Canada. They moved over 28 times, sometimes twice in a year in their early years as a family. She became an expert in packing and finding fun adventures for her children in all of those moves. They finally settled in Blaine, Wash., in 2002, where they lived the longest stretch of time in their 59 years together. Larry preceded her in death Aug. 8, 2022, in Bellingham, Wash. 

Judy was passionate about family. She adored her sons, their wives and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved to spend time with them. Judy also cherished her sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews and watched over them like they were her own. During her many moves, she remained good friends with many who became like family to her.

She was dedicated to researching her family history and helped others do their research. She enjoyed photographing family events and creating scrapbooks for herself and others. She was also talented in painting, flower arranging and sewing, and shared those talents with others. She enjoyed watching movies, playing card games, gardening, listening to oldies music and reading. 

She remained a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life. She served as a family history consultant and a Primary teacher and in the Relief Society. In December 2023, her family was sealed together in the Moses Lake temple.

In addition to her husband, Larry, she is preceded in death by her parents, Earnest and Ethel, her sister, Marion, and her brother, Ray. 

She is survived by her two sons, Brian Ploghoft (Tiffiny) of West Richland, Wash. and Mark Ploghoft (Alice) of Lake Crystal, Minn. She is also survived by nine grandchildren Paige Blood (Benjamin), Lauren Barrus (Nicholas), Daina Fassler (Daemon), Dylan Ploghoft, Logan Ploghoft, Brady Ploghoft, Joshua Ploghoft, Nathan Ploghoft and Eliza Ploghoft, who will cherish the lessons and love that Grandma Judy gave. She was also adored by her five great-grandchildren, Alaric, Olivia, Xander, Raelynn and William and one more great-granddaughter due to arrive in May, whom we are sure she has met in heaven. She is also survived by sisters Vicky Bowen (Joel), Joyce Kelly and Kathy Payne (Ken).

A memorial service for Judy will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 925 N. Grape Drive, Moses Lake, Wash. A burial for her and Larry will follow at Pioneer Memorial Gardens in Moses Lake.