Judy Kay Richter

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, William Huntoon, her sister Jackie Kirk.

She is survived by her husband and friend:

•Thomas Richter of Littleton, CO.

Her sons:

•Jeff (Ann) Huntoon of Bloomington, IN

•Tim (Stacy) Huntoon of Austin, TX

Her stepsons:

•Keith (Cari) Richter of Pleasant Prairie, WI

•Kurt Richter of Mesquite, TX,

•Kevin (Amy) Richter of Edmond, OK

Grandchildren:

William (Athena), Caitlyn, Kendra, Jordan (Stephanie), Rachel (Reece), Sarah, Kyle (Jessica), Jennifer (Grant), Ryan, Jacque, and Billy.

Great-grandchildren:

Jane, Weston, Collins

Loving family members:

•Sister Jerrie (Henry) Cicerale of Kenosha, WI

•Sister-in-law Barbara Detterbeck of Kenosha, WI

•Sister-in-Law Sharon (Mike) Groenke of Kenosha, WI

•nieces, nephews and other family members

Judy grew up in Glencoe, IL attending Central School through 8th grade and graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois in 1962.

As a child, Judy cherished summers biking to Lake Michigan with her sisters and cousins along with winters playing on the ice floes (despite the consequences when they ventured too far). After a good rain, she and her cousin Patty could be seen walking their beloved ducks - June Bug and Apple Blossom - on leashes to a nearby pond. While those ducks met an unfortunate Thanksgiving fate, Judy refused to eat them on principle.

Following high school, Judy attended the University of Denver on an accordion music scholarship with one of her proudest childhood memories being performing in an accordion competition at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. Later in life, she pursued her love of plants and flowers, earning a degree in Horticulture from Gateway Technical College.

On May 29, 1965, Judy married William Huntoon of Kenosha, WI who preceded her in death in 1979. A devoted stay-at-home mother, she poured her energy into raising her two sons and tending to her yard, although she was not especially fond of canning the bushels of tomatoes her father brought them each summer.

In 1982, during a family dinner, Judy asked her boys Jeff and Tim if they wanted to move to Colorado and they both said yes enthusiastically, especially since they would be able to ski the entire winter season! And so began the Colorado chapter of her life.

After arriving in Denver, Judy became a florist and managed multiple stores with both Veldkamp’s Flowers and Lehrer’s Flowers where her creativity and love of crafting original arrangements for her customers shined through. After more than 25 years in floral design, she transitioned to bookkeeping at Metro Machine and Front Range Marine and Vehicle Storage in 1999 until she retired in 2013.

On July 29, 2000, Judy married Thomas (Tom) Richter after a 17-year courtship – with 2000 being “the year” and having special meaning in their lives, not only for the symbolism of a brand-new century to start a brand-new life, but so Tom could always remember how many years they’d been married! Judy spent the remainder of her life by Tom’s side doing the things she loved most in life.

Throughout her life, Judy was a proud mom who delighted in watching her boys and their families excel in athletics, academics, and life. She continued skiing, ice skating and playing tennis into her 70s, often challenged by her sons and grandchildren on the slopes and in the rink (which one particular grandchild contends he still won the tennis match 😊).

Faith played a central role in Judy’s life. She was a dedicated member of her church choir for over 20 years, baking communion bread each month and maintaining the numerous flower gardens at Abiding Hope Church.

After her family, Judy’s next greatest passion was gardening. Her six gardens were award-winning, and each spring, she would work through the night in her nursery, lovingly planting her containers. Her love of flowers, with the Sonia Rose being her favorite flower, led her to start a small landscape design company where she shared her passion and vision with others. Evenings were often spent with her husband Tom by the fire pit, listening to the sounds of the fountain and waterfalls of the Koi Pond.

Judy spent many of her days travelling the world with Tom. Her favorite memories were visiting her beloved family throughout the country, and most memorably, singing with her choir at the Berliner Dom in Berlin, Germany and at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Judy, a wife, mother, grandmother, and bamma leaves behind not just a family that adored her but a legacy of light, laughter and strength (and an angel or two!). Her spirit will forever live and shine through in her children, grandchildren and all those who were her family and friends.

Please join us in celebrating her life on June 6, 2025 at 11 am MDT with a luncheon immediately following at:

Abiding Hope Church

6337 S Robb Way

Littleton, CO 80127

In honor of Judy’s lifelong love of flowers, floral tributes are warmly welcomed and deeply appreciated.