Jody Ridgway

Mass of Christian burial for Jody Ridgway, will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, November 19, 2021, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, 2021, at Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, SD, with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Mitchell, SD. Will Funeral Chapel of Mitchell, SD, is in charge of arrangements.

Jody was born on October 26, 1963, in Wessington Springs, SD, to Ed and Sharon (Clark) Ridgway, the fourth of eight children. Around one year after her birth, Jody moved to Platte, SD, with her family. Jody graduated from Platte High School in 1981, and went on to study at Mitchell Vo-Tech to become a lab technician. After an internship in Sturgis, SD, Jody joined Gregory Hospital in September of 1982 as a full-time lab technician. Later in her career, she would go on to become a certified Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). Jody spent her entire professional career at Gregory Hospital. Due to complications from a stroke, Jody resigned her position at the end of 2015, but kept in touch with the many friends she made there.

Jody was known as a kind, loving, and generous person. There wasn’t a Girl Scout she wouldn’t buy cookies from, a fundraiser she wouldn’t support, or a friend/family member in need she wouldn’t help. After her brother was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, she helped to support a Relay for Life event in Gregory in 2013 to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Promoting causes for cancer research remained a passion for her until her passing. Jody also never forgot a birthday or anniversary.

She enjoyed going to the movies, concerts, watching Hallmark Christmas movies, Hallmark ornaments, baking, reading, crocheting, handing out candy on Halloween, and cheering on the Minnesota Vikings. She enjoyed traveling, making memorable trips to New York City, San Antonio, the Ozarks, San Diego, and Italy. She enjoyed coming to Mitchell and spending time with her childhood friends Tami and Noretta, as well as Connie, her close friend from Mitchell Vo-Tech. But her biggest passion was her nieces and nephews. She loved going to their school concerts, plays, sporting events, and cheer/dance competitions.

But perhaps what Jody will be most known and admired for is her strength. She went through many challenges in her young life and overcame many of them by sheer stubbornness and force of will. From being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in her early twenties to two kidney transplants, a pancreas transplant, and a stroke, she overcame more obstacles than others much older than her. When after her stroke the doctors told her she wouldn’t walk again without a walker, she worked hard to prove them wrong, and soon the walker was collecting dust in her closet. Jody’s resilience and strength were unmatched and unrivaled. She was a true force of nature.

Jody Ridgway, 58, of Gregory, SD, passed away Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Grateful to have shared Jody’s life are her parents Ed and Sharon Ridgway of Mitchell, SD; sisters: Lynn (Joe) Klein of Gregory, SD, Cheryl (Larry) Dalldorf of Kimball, SD, and Robin Ridgway of Mitchell, SD; brothers: Chuck Ridgway of Sioux Falls, SD, Clark Ridgway of Fargo, ND, and Jeff Ridgway of Mitchell, SD; sister-in-law Janell Ridgway of Mitchell, SD; many nieces and nephews; her kidney donor, Sanna Fast; and her Yorkie, Lilah Jane.

Jody was preceded in death by her younger brother Allen Ridgway, both her maternal and paternal grandparents, six aunts, four uncles, one cousin, and Daisy Mae, her beloved first dog.