Judith Ann Bruce

Judith Ann (VanderVoort) Bruce, 85, of Hamilton, MT, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on November 9, 1940 in Battle Creek, MI to Betty Doerr VanderVoort and John G. VanderVoort. She was the youngest of two children with her older brother being Tad (Skip) VanderVoort.

Judy was raised in Battle Creek, MI and graduated from high school there in 1959. She married Daniel Perry Kelly on September 12, 1959. They had 5 children together. They moved around the country until they finally settled in Hamilton, MT in 1974. They later divorced in 1978. Judy remarried Robert W. Bruce on May 6, 1982.

Judy, Robert, and her 3 youngest children moved to Louisiana in 1982 where both Judy and Robert worked at Fort Polk. Judy excelled as a secretary at the Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital where she was officially commended by the Department of the Army for her hard work, dedication and “stubborn determination to reach mission objectives”. They moved to Germany in 1988 where they lived for 2.5 years before returning to Hamilton to settle back into mountain life. While in Germany, Judy was the secretary to the base commander where she earned multiple certificates of commendation for her service to the US Military. Judy and her children enjoyed the sights of the country, traveled to Italy and enjoyed shopping in the city center of Wurzburg. Upon returning to Hamilton, she worked for the Prudential Real Estate office.

Judy enjoyed traveling to visit her daughters and grandchildren in North Carolina and Wisconsin, attending motorcycle rallies, traveling to North Carolina beaches for family reunions and wintering in Texas along the Gulf Coast with her husband. She also enjoyed swimming, camping/hiking with friends, and being involved with her church. Judy was always full of surprises, even as a young teenager, with pulling pranks on unsuspecting targets

Judy is survived by her 5 children: R. Scott Kelly of WA; Randolph S. Kelly of UT; Theresa J. Stone (Randy Spencer) of Hillsborough, NC; Karla J. McIntire (James) of Hamilton, MT/Colby, WI; Claydan V. Kelly of Bearmouth, MT; 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Judy is preceded in death by her husband Robert Bruce, parents John and Betty VanderVoort, and her brother Tad.