Judith Lawerence age 79 of Savanah, formerly of Edina Minnesota, passed away August 31, 2026, from a heart attack and complications with Parkinsons.

Judy was born and raised in Fridley, Minnesota, graduating from Fridley High School in 1965. She attended Bemidji State University, where she earned a degree in elementary education. She began her career with Head Start on the Red Lake Reservation before moving to the Leech Lake Reservation, where she became director of the Head Start program. Her work at Leech Lake later took her in a new direction, first as an economic development planner and then into the Reservation’s construction division, beginning what would become the focus of the rest of her professional life. In 1985, Judy moved to the Twin Cities to continue her growing career in construction and commercial development.

She enjoyed a long and accomplished career in commercial real estate, construction management, and tenant coordination, participating in some of the Twin Cities’ most visible development projects. Her work included the opening of the Minnesota World Trade Center and the development and opening of the Mall of America, where she served as a tenant coordinator. She concluded her career with Kraus-Anderson Realty Company, where she spent ten years as Construction Manager.

Judy was a bold, confident, curious, steadfast, and strong woman who cared deeply about the people and world around her. She was a hard worker, with gifts of teamwork and problem solving. She brought light and energy to those she worked with. She was an avid reader and loved book clubs, theater, playing bridge, mahjong, television, music, crossword puzzles, and, throughout her life, cats. Judy was a strong advocate for women in the workplace and a champion for those who were marginalized, values she carried with her throughout both her personal and professional life.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Laurence Garten; her husband, Robert Lawrence; and her brother, Bill Garten. She is survived by her sons, Christopher of New York City and Jason (Alexandra) Talsness; her grandchildren, Peter, Ana, and Helena Talsness of Savannah, Georgia. Her brother, Tom Garten (Holly) of Minneapolis; her stepdaughter, Nancy Lawrence of Long Prairie, Minnesota and step grandchildren Tyler and Tara; and her nephews, Anton Garten (Jennell) and Matt Garten of Minneapolis, James (Jessica) Hurst of Thief River Falls, and Sean Lesher of Backus, Minnesota.

There will be two memorial services, first in Savannah, Georgia at Messiah Lutheran Church at 1pm on Saturday, September 26, and on Friday, November 6 at 11am at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on 4801 France Avenue S in Minneapolis, MN  55410. Receptions to follow both.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to your local chapter of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Michael J. Fox foundation to accelerate a cure for Parkinson’s disease.