Joyce Johnson, 73

Joyce Lavalle Johnson, 73, Evansville, passed away on January 31, 2011 at University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital due to complications from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Joyce was born July 15, 1937 to Herbert and Edna (Wussow) Carlson in Millerville Township. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Millerville, north of Lake Moses. Joyce first attended country school at District 72, located where Pine Ridge Golf Course is now, and graduated from Evansville High School in 1955.

After graduation, Joyce worked in Moorhead for about a year until she married Arlynn Johnson in 1956. They lived and worked on the Johnson home farm in Urness Township until moving to a new house in Evansville in 1982.

Joyce had three sons: Brent, Shawn and Lance. While raising her sons, she also worked on the farm every day – feeding and milking cows, driving tractor, bookkeeping, and all the other chores that are a part of a rural life. Every summer for 50 years Joyce and her family would travel from the plains of Texas to the Canadian prairies operating their family’s custom harvesting business. Along with driving a grain truck and cooking meals for her family and hired men, Joyce also raised her three young sons on the road. Because of living, working, and raising her family all across the Midwest, Joyce has made many dear friends from all across the country.

In 1989, Joyce and Arlynn survived a major vehicle accident. The Lord was not yet ready for her and she survived her very severe initial injuries and the resulting complications for nearly 22 years.

Joyce was very involved in church life and loved making quilts with the Faith Women. She loved to read and enjoyed donating new books to the church library, where she was also the librarian. Her greatest joy was her family and her grandchildren. Her faith in God, enduring strength and independence have been an inspiration to her family, friends and community.

She is survived by her children, Brent (Debra), Shawn (Rachel) and Lance (Heidi); her grandchildren and their families, Donald (Kassandra) and Kylie, Jana (Michael), Paige and Emma, Leah Joy, Trey, Ty, Tanner, Elizabeth, Tucker, Kali Jo, Jaime, Annika and Abby; her sisters, Marlys (Bob) Olson, Diane (Rod) Palmquist; brother, Larry (Vicki) Carlson; brother-in law, Deloyd (Valerie) Johnson; sister-in-law, Suzann Nelson; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Edna Carlson; father and mother-in-law, Theodore and Bendetta Johnson; sister-in-law, Lorraine Johnson; and brother-in-law, Ronald Nelson.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 5 at 2 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville with the Rev. Steve Olson officiating.

Burial will be at Fryksande Lutheran Cemetery in rural Evansville.

Visitation will be Friday, February 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Evansville and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Condolences may be sent at www.GlendeNilson.com.

Arrangements are with Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Evansville.

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Tags: joyce johnson, obituaries, johnson

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