Vernon Lewis (Judge) Boyd passed away May 28, 2014 at NEMHS, where he was constantly surrounded by loved ones. Born on August 25, 1954 in Poplar, he was the sixth son born to Lewis and Loetta Boyd. In his younger years he was called Toddy (was his mother’s favorite drink at the Chief Drive-In while pregnant with him) and later picked up the name Judge (from comedian Flip Wilson; he was always walking around saying here comes “The Judge”) which stuck with him the rest of his life.
When he was young he always had a love for animals; he was always packing some sick or injured animal home. He raised white German Shepherds and Miniature Dobermans. His dog Spook was his constant companion for the past 17 years.
Judge was raised in the Brockton and Fort Kipp area. He used to like to go hunting with his brothers and relatives, especially his cousin Harold Buck Elk. When they were young, they could pass for twins. He went to school in Brockton and left for the military at the age of 17. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Fort Ord, Fort Sill, and Germany. He was proud to serve his country along with his parents, six brothers, and all his Boyd uncles.
After returning home he became a licensed counselor at Spotted Bull Treatment Center where he helped many and made a lot of friends. He met a lifelong friend, Ronnie Spotted Bull, at the center. He stayed there until previous injuries forced him to leave. He spent his last years at home.
He legally adopted Devin Booth as his son; he also adopted Krista Bauer and Ashley Bear as his daughters. He is survived by his dog “Spook”, his son Devin Booth, his two sisters Abigail Reddoor and Debra Colgan of Poplar, his five brothers Jonathan (Francis), Lowell (Linda), David (Chong Ae) of Poplar, Michael (Mary) of New Town, North Dakota, and Llewellyn Boyd of Brockton. He is survived by aunts Joyce (Jack) Tootoosis, Gloria (Robert) Garcia, Reba Ogle, and Loretta Bearcub.
He was a second father to his nieces and nephews. Later in life he was called Grandpa Judge by his nieces’ and nephews’ children.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Loetta Boyd, his brothers Robert, Myron, and cousin Jackie (who was raised as a brother). He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents George and Nellie (Black Dog) Boyd and maternal grandparents Elmer Red Eagle and Stella and Patrick Necklace.
He leaves his relatives from the Boyd, Black Dog, Red Eagle, Eagle, Menz, Hawk, Shields, Red Dog, Denny, Necklace, and Buck Elk families and many more relatives too numerous to name. Judge did not have a family tree; he had a forest.
A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2014 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 2, 2014 at the Brockton Cultural Center in Brockton, Montana. Interment will follow at the Riverview Cemetery in Brockton where he will be laid to rest next to his mother Loetta and father Lewis. Condolences for the family may be left at: www.claytonstevensonchapel.com . Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with arrangements.