Joyce E. Baggenstoss, 83, of Jordan, MN, passed away on November 4th, 2023.
A Funeral Service will be held in Joyce’s honor at 11:00 AM on November 25, 2023, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 5634 Luther Rd SE, Prior Lake, MN. Pastor Greg DeMuth will preside. Visitation time will be held from 9:00-11:00 AM prior to services. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred and will be distributed by the family in Joyce’s name.
Joyce Elaine was born on December 28, 1939, to Arthur and Blanche (Davis) Johnson in Minneapolis, MN. Losing Arthur at a young age, Joyce, her younger brother Walter, and her mother Blanche were close growing up. They enjoyed taking the train to Eckelson, ND to visit extended family from time to time.
Joyce graduated from South High, MPLS, and started working at Farmer’s Mutual. Soon after, she was introduced to Milford Baggenstoss at a dance after getting set up on a blind date by her coworker, who was Milford’s sister. They hit it off right away, and before long, Milford was proposing to Joyce at the gas station in Big Lake, MN. They were married on April 30, 1960 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They lived in Bloomington for a short time before moving down to Jordan, MN, where they would stay for over 55 years. Joyce and Milford were blessed with three daughters, Becky, Bonnie, and Jill. While Milford worked on the farm, Joyce learned how to be a homemaker, and kept the house in order. She put the kids to work and instilled a strong work ethic in each of them. When the kids were older, she worked in housekeeping for Friendship Manor nursing home and her final job was at JoAnn Fabrics, which she really enjoyed due to her love of crafting and sewing. Together, they built fond memories pulling sleds with the tractor, snowmobiling, and having plenty of quality time together as a family. Despite the busy farm life, they were also able to take memorable trips to Colorado, Nashville, Germany and Branson. Later in life, when Joyce was blessed with four grandchildren, she spoiled them, took them to the movies, and was very proud to be a grandma and even more so when she was blessed with two great-grandchildren.
Joyce and Milford were dedicated to their faith and were very involved in the lives of their children and in their community. They attended numerous Lutheran churches before settling into St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Prior Lake later in life, where they spent time helping with small groups, funeral lunches, and various other activities. Joyce was also a troop leader for Girl Scouts, supporting her daughters while they were growing up.
Joyce was a strong woman that never held back, and she will always be remembered for her nurturing, giving, and loving nature. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Milford; children, Becky (Gary) Lee, Bonnie (Zach) Reed, and Jill Breckner; grandchildren, Mandi (Matt) Rademacher, Katherine (Justin) Perry, Cody Dorn and Logan Reed; great grandchildren; Lily and Weston Rademacher; brother, Walter (Carla) Johnson; and many other loving family and friends.
She will be reunited in heaven with her parents; and son-in-law, William Breckner.
