Judy L. DeMers, 79, of Glendale, AZ, Grand Forks, ND and Grace Lake, MN, died on March 12, 2024 at Banner Thunderbird Hospital in Glendale, AZ.
Judy Lee Prosser was born on June 27, 1944, in Grand Forks, N.D., the daughter of Robert Lee Prosser and V. Margaret Harming (Prosser). She lived on the 900 block of Belmont Road until she graduated from Central High School in 1962. She enrolled in Nursing at the University of North Dakota and graduated four years later, summa cum laude, and as Valedictorian from the University North Dakota’s College of Nursing. In the interim she married Donald E. DeMers and welcomed the birth of her only child in 1965, Robert M. DeMers.
Judy worked as a Nurse in Grand Forks until she divorced and left Grand Forks to pursue higher education in 1972. She both worked and raised her son until 1977 when she obtained her Master Degree in Education from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, and ultimately returned to Grand Forks where she maintained a residence until her death. Her work history included working as a faculty member at UND in 1969 as an instructor in public health and then with the Medex Project which later became UND’s physician assistant program. In 1977 upon her return to UND she worked for five years in the Nurse Practitioner Program and then in 1983 she was promoted to Associate Dean of Student Affairs for UND Medical School.
While carrying the weight of all of her students’ academic and personal issues, Judy was also a State Representative from 1983 and then from 1993 to 2000 as a State Senator. This was another example of her working for all of the people of North Dakota, particularly those suffering hard times or lacking an ability to fend for themselves. Few people knew, but Judy walked her entire district and knocked on every door every time she ran for office. She had conversations in doorways, in restaurants, and she always included her phone number on her flyers. She was always available to her constituents.
Judy was extremely proud to have worked with people who were on the leading edge of healthcare. She knew she had found her true passion when she was hired as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at the Medical School at the University of North Dakota. She worked there for 27 years until she retired to spend time with family and travel between Arizona and her cabin at Grace Lake.
She is survived by her Son, Robert M. DeMers and daughter-in-law Dawn R. DeMers (Nybo), Peoria, AZ, Grandson and joy of her life Tyler J. DeMers, Phoenix, AZ, and her niece Mary Balliett, of Florida. Not to be forgotten was her Chiweenie Maddie who lived a good life with her momma Judy and is still taking care of Bob’s house with her cousins.
Judy was preceded in death by sisters Bobbie Horton and Joan Coats.
Memorial Service will be held on May 21, 2024 from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, in the event space on the second floor. It will be an open house event for all to come and share memories with comments to be made at 3:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send a contribution to the Judy L DeMers scholarship endowment that supports student scholarships at the School of Medicine. The Web address: https://undalumni.my.site.com/ascendportal/s/give/presidents-annual-excellence select “click here to select your fund” then just type in “DeMers” when asked to “search for your designation here”. Click “search” and Judy’s endowment will appear.