Judy Anne Long

Judy Long of Grangeville, Idaho, passed away peacefully at her home on June 18, 2024. She was born on March 30, 1948, and was the oldest of the 12 children of Dennis and Audrey Arnzen. Judy grew up on the family farm near Greencreek, Idaho, and graduated from St. Gertrude’s Academy in 1966. She was active in livestock and home economics 4-H, journalism, and softball. In addition to her active school days, Judy played an important role in life on the farm and helping to raise her younger siblings.

After high school, Judy worked for Idaho First National Bank for 7 years at branches in Cottonwood, Boise, and Moscow. In 1969, she met her life partner, Patrick Long, and on September 9, 1972, they were married in Greencreek. Judy and Patrick moved to Grangeville in 1973, working together raising crops and livestock on Patrick’s family farm. Judy and Patrick had two children, Shelby (born in 1977) and Sean (born in 1979). She loved to travel with her family, and often took them to see relatives in Boise, Seattle, and Portland.

Through the 1980s, Judy worked as a clerk and bookkeeper at Baker Truck Service, Union Warehouse, and the Cottonwood Sales Yard. In 1992, Judy earned a B.S. in Management at Lewis-Clark State College. Following this, she started as a real estate agent at Solberg Agency in Grangeville in 1993, which blossomed into a 30-year-long career that she truly loved and excelled at. Her career in real estate, as well as her close friends at Solberg Agency, were a very important part of her life. She was voted best realtor in Idaho County in 2021.

Judy was a vibrant and active member of many Camas Prairie organizations. She was involved with local 4-H programs, and she volunteered as a clerk for the Idaho County Fair 4-H livestock sale for over 30 years. In 2011, Judy and Patrick were the Grand Marshalls of the Idaho County Fair. Judy was active in the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Sorority for nearly 40 years and was part of the Cowbelle’s Organization through much of the 1980s-1990s, serving as president from 1990-1994.

Judy is survived by her daughter, Shelby, and her husband, Tony Hammond; her son, Sean, and his wife, Heather Green, and grandchildren: Ava, Evan, and Emmett. Judy is survived by her sisters: Susan Arnzen, Mary Rhea (Eric), and Sandy Harden (Brian); brothers: Brad (Char), Randy (Danette) and Clay (Kathy); sisters-in-law: Char, Marilyn, Helen, Carol and Barbara (Joel); brother-in-law, Tim and many nieces and nephews. Judy was preceded in death by Patrick, her husband of 49 years: parents, Dennis and Audrey; brothers: Dale, Bruce, Doug, Dennis and Gordon, and sister-in-law, Delores. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 27th, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Grangeville at 10:00 AM, with a reception to follow at the Eagles Lodge. Judy will be laid to rest next to her husband, Pat, at Fairview Cemetery north of Grangeville in a private family ceremony. Services are under the care of Accent Funeral Home (Meridian, Idaho) and Blackmer Funeral Home (Grangeville, Idaho). 

Remembrances may be left for the family at www.AccentFuneral.com. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Judy’s name to the Idaho County 4-H Fund. To make a donation, please contact the Idaho County Extension Office (208-983-2667).