Judy Franke Sorby

Judy Rae (Franke) Sorby, 79, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, surrounded by family and listening to some of her favorite Elvis songs, at Sanford Health Hospital, Fargo, ND.

Judy was born on October 10, 1943, to Ray and Echo (Sorum) Franke in Erie, ND. She grew up in Felton, MN, where she graduated from Felton High School in 1961. After graduation she moved to Minneapolis, MN, where she began her lifelong career as a ticket agent for Northwest Airlines. She moved back to Moorhead and was united in marriage to Matthew Sorby on September 17, 1966, in Kragnes, MN at North Buffalo Lutheran Church. Judy worked at the downtown Fargo Northwest Airlines office until her retirement in 1999.  She took great pride in providing her customers with best travel experience, often researching itineraries into the wee hours.  After retirement, Judy and Matt enjoyed wintering in New Braunfels, TX and summering in Moorhead, MN.

Judy suffered from a severe case of the “travel bug”, travelling the world with family and friends. She loved planning and researching her next adventure. She also instilled her fierce independence and wanderlust to her daughters, which she later began to regret! Her favorite trips were to Las Vegas with her sister, Nancy. They would spend hours planning which casino they needed to visit in order to receive their free promotions. If shopping was an art form, Judy perfected it, she spent hours perusing the racks for the best deals at Kohls and Herbergers. Judy was a ferocious reader of romantic western genres, she also enjoyed playing cards with her friends, however, she hated losing and sometimes would change the rules to suit her needs. Judy was a master rhubarb jam maker, known to all as “Judy’s Jam”, her nieces and nephews would wait anxiously each year to receive their quota of jam and then proceed to hide it from other family members. Judy will be greatly missed by all for her generous spirit and endless amount of love she showered upon us.

Judy is survived by her loving husband, Matt; children, Jane Sorby and Jill Sorby (Jeremy Anderson); grandogs, Hudson and Sadie; siblings, Dean Franke, Nancy (Chuck) Kinzler, Doug (Barb) Franke; and many adoring nieces and nephews, other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her very spoiled cocker spaniel, Penny; parents, Ray and Echo Franke; and her beloved Mother-in-law Margaret Sorby.

Visitation will be from noon to 1:00 P.M., followed by the memorial service at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the Lutheran Church of Christ the King, Moorhead, MN. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo, ND, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations preferred to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or 4luvofdog Dog Rescue.

Video tribute and online guestbook at www.wrightfuneral.com