Joyce Johnson

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Joyce Johnson (Alva Joyce Johnson), 89 of rural Hartford died Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at her daughter Rhonda’s home in rural Ames, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Friday, July 18, 2014 at Benton Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Burial will in the Benton Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:30 to 7:30 P. M. Thursday, July 17th at the church.

Joyce was born September 19, 1924 in Canton, South Dakota to parents Theodore and Pauline Nelson. She grew up in rural Canton on the family farm. She graduated from Canton High School and briefly worked in Sioux Falls at Fenn’s Candy Company.
Joyce married Eldon Johnson on January 28, 1945 at Grand Valley Lutheran Church in rural Canton. She and Eldon lived and farmed in the Crooks/Hartford area for many years.

Joyce was baptized and confirmed at Grand Valley Lutheran Church and became a member of Benton Lutheran after her marriage to Eldon and lived to become one of the oldest members of her church.
Joyce was a very organized farm wife who was a wonderful cook and baker. She was awarded many blue ribbons at the county fair and her cooking was greatly enjoyed by friends and family (especially her cinnamon rolls!) She was active in Benton church activities, including Ladies Aid, Couples Club, as well as pie and quilt making. She was involved in the county extension club and held various leadership positions over the years. Joyce loved to travel, including visiting Norway five times to see her ancestral home. Grandma Joyce greatly enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children; a son, Ronald Johnson; two daughters, and their husbands, Rhonda and Greg Lofstedt, Ames, Iowa; Julaine and Ron Duimstra, Marshalltown, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Angela (David) Graham, Amber Duimstra, Ashlee Duimstra, Amy (Steve) Gusky, Brooks (Alesha) Lofstedt, Prentice Lofstedt, Lindsey (Nick) Snyder, and Brent Lofstedt; six great grandchildren, August Graham, Peter Graham, Oliver Gusky, Wilson Lofstedt, Macy Lofstedt, and Griffin Lofstedt; a sister, Eloise Pinney, sisters in law, LaVerne Nelson, Mary Nelson, Maxine Fischer: and a brother in law, Vernell Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her husband Eldon on November 6, 2009, her parents, and four brothers and two sisters.