Judee Larsen did almost everything on the farm
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
Judee and Warren on their wedding day. They were married at Weare Catholic Church in Oceana County.
VICTORY TOWNSHIP — Judee Larsen was nothing short of a farming legend in Mason and Oceana counties. The matriarch of Larsen Farms, Judee passed away at her home following lengthy health challenges, on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at the age of 82.
Judee was not a farmer’s wife. She was a farmer.
“When my mother was born, she was the fifth child out of two boys and two girls,” said Beth Larsen-Pobojewski, Judee’s oldest daughter and second oldest child. “Her father’s remark was, ‘I don’t need another girl. I need a boy to help run this farm.’ This was something he reminded her of at a young age and my mom went on to prove to my grandfather that she could do anything that any boy — any man — could do on the farm. She continued that work ethic when she married my dad and raised their children and grandchildren.”
Judee Ellen Larsen was born on July 5, 1947 in Hart, the daughter of potato farmers Henry and Genevieve VandenHeuvel. She was a 1960 graduate of Hart High School.
On Sept. 24, 1960, she married Warren Bruce Larsen, the son of Harold Larsen, who was Mason County’s Michigan State University Extension agent. Warren had bought his first cow when he was 13 years old. After graduating from Mason County Central High School in 1957, he went to Michigan State to study agriculture. He returned to Mason County and started farming, initially south of Custer.
“When my dad picked my mom up for their first date, they would tell the story that he was all dressed up. But, my grandfather told my dad that he needed a field plowed before Judee could go out. So, my dad plowed the field.”
Judee and Warren
Judee and Warren built a legacy farm that continues today as one of the few remaining dairy farms in Mason County.
Along the way, Judee and Warren raised four children, Bruce, Beth, Brigitte, and Burke. Burke continues to run the farm with his wife, Lisa.
“My mom was always working hard on the farm,” Beth said. “She milked cows. Drove tractors. Cleaned barns. Did the paperwork. And, cooked meals. That was mom’s thing: If you were standing around, you better not be standing around near her, because she would put you to work. If you were tired, you had better have gone someplace else.”
Judee did everything on the farm — except drive combine.
“My mom just didn’t want to drive the combine,” Beth said. “Even when Dad bought a brand new one, she told him that she was fine with him driving it.”
Judee and Warren worked hard, but life wasn’t perfect.
“For many years, in addition to running the farm, my dad had a trucking business,” Beth said. “He was gone a lot. Unfortunately, he was gone a lot of times when tragedy struck. We lost one of our farmhands, Benny Miszewski, who had gotten hit by a car while crossing the road. Our barn burned down in 1972. My dad wasn’t there. After those events, he knew he needed to be home, on the farm, with his family.”
Judee took on other jobs, most notably at Tony’s Restaurant in Custer and Gibbs Country House in Amber Township.
Judee’s hobbies were as diverse as she was.
We was a local legend in the snowmobile racing circuit, racing Arctic Cat snowmobiles (purchased from Alway’s Implement Center), at Whiskey Creek and beyond. In fact, she not only raced — but she won… a lot. In 1972, she had five first place finishes in six outings. She was known as “Powder Puff Jude.”
“Our basement used to be filled with her snowmobile racing trophies,” Beth said. “My mom was a legend in the snowmobile racing circuit. She was a trailblazer for women. She also was a mean tractor puller too.”
“She didn’t do anything slow, always fast,” said youngest daughter Brigitte. “I’m not sure, but I think she said ‘Get ‘er done’ before Larry the Cable Guy!”
But, Judee was also a farm wife and a mother. She was a marvelous cook, Beth said. She also loved scrapbooking and card making. She liked antiquing and gardening.
The Larsen family worked hard and played hard. The family would spend time at their Upper Peninsula cottage on Big Manistique Lake in Curtis.
“Mom’s birthday was July 5. We would always try to get the first hay cutting done by July 4 so we could get up to the cottage,” Beth said. “Most of the time that worked out.”
As they moved into retirement, Judee and Warren began staying winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama. First, they would camp in a fifth-wheel RV. Then, they bought property with a cottage.
“My mom loved to travel,” Beth said. “She would go on cruises and visited many different places.”
Warren passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 12, 2013 at the age of 74.
“I know she missed dad so much,” Beth said. “She would often say it was difficult for her to go on without him. But, she was tough. One of the things that kept her going was her faith. You wouldn’t always know it by her actions. She would work hard. Play hard. Curse hard. But, she had a deep faith in God. She was raised Catholic and would keep that faith her entire life.”
Judee and Warren instilled a work ethic in their children that has been passed on to their six grandchildren.
“My dad would always tell us to do something that mattered,” Beth said. “He also told me to go to college and make enough money where I didn’t have to rely on any man. I sure loved my parents.”
Visitation for Judee Larsen will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, with the Rosary at 7 p.m. A Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Dan DePew presiding. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday at the church. Judee will be laid to rest at Sugar Grove Cemetery.
Judee’s obituary will be posted later this weekend.
The Larsen family. Photo by Russ Miller.
Judee tractor pulling at the Scottville Harvest Festival
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