Joyce M. Johannes, age 89 of Shakopee, formerly of Fergus Falls, passed away on Wednesday, October 12, 2016. She was surrounded by her children while listening to her favorite hymns—Amazing Grace, Beautiful Savior, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus. The family will greet friends at 10:30AM on Monday, October 17, at Hawley Lutheran Church, 510 8 th Street, Hawley, Minnesota.
A graveside service will also be Monday, October 17, at 4:00PM at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Kulm, North Dakota. Following the burial, there will be a time of gathering at Zion Lutheran Church, 107 Central St. E, Kulm.
On December 21, 1926 in Washburn, North Dakota, John and Elda (Peterson) Leidholm celebrated the birth of their youngest daughter, Joyce Marie Leidholm. She was the eighth of nine children. Growing up on the family’s homestead taught Joyce the value of hard work. Her favorite chore was cooking and baking with her mother. When she wasn’t doing chores, Joyce always found time for adventure. Riding downhill while standing on the seat of her bicycle was just one instance of Joyce’s mischief. In her teenage years, Joyce loved cruising with her cousin Bonnie in a Model T Ford. On one such ride, Joyce saw a tire rolling down the road in front of them and remarked, “Look, somebody lost their wheel!” Soon they heard the thumping from their car and realized it was their tire.
Down the road from the Leidholm farm was the Johannes farm. Joyce befriended Maynard Johannes when she helped at the Johannes farm. The friendship blossomed into love and the young couple exchanged wedding vows on September 15, 1946 at Birka Lutheran Church. Joyce and Maynard moved to the Johannes farm where there were two homes—the big house and the little house. The newlyweds settled down in the little house where all their children were born and raised. After a few years of unfavorable farming conditions, the family decided to move. They briefly lived in Bismarck and Jamestown before settling in Kulm ND where Joyce cooked at school, was a member of the Legion Auxiliary and Zion Lutheran Church. They moved to Hawley, MN in 1976. Joyce realized a lifelong dream of being a nurse by getting her CNA at 60 years of age, working at group homes and Hawley Manor.
There were three important things in Joyce’s life—faith, family, and friends. Joyce was active at Hawley Lutheran Church as member of the altar guild, WELCA, and a mentor to children in confirmation class. Her faith motivated her to be a caregiver to her family and community. If someone needed help, Joyce was the first to lend a hand. Her home was always open to friends, especially those looking for a bite to eat. Some of Joyce’s famous dishes were her caramel rolls, Swedish hardtack, German kuchen, and chokeberry jelly.
In 1970, Joyce’s life was forever altered by her son, Lyle, dying in the Vietnam War. Despite this loss, her faith remained strong. Joyce was a devout, loving mother who put others before herself. She and her “sloppy kisses” will be greatly missed by her children, Michael (Karen) Johannes, JoAnn Bowman, Sally (Jerry) Johnson; Grandchildren, Marcus (Dr. Aanna) and their children, Ingrid, Marta, Ida, Lucia; Christina (Daniel, SMSgt), Josh, Dr. David (Trisha), Trapper (Andrea) and their children, Oliver, Stone, Benjamin; Cole’s son, Seth; sister, Marguerite Freeman, and son-in-law, Ken Bowman. There to greet Joyce in heaven is her husband, Maynard; son, Lyle; grandsons, David and Cole; Parents; siblings, Ruth (George), Elsie (Herb), Wilmar (Olga), Gordon (Viola), Neoma, Ralph (Doris), Brother-in-law Don Freeman, Arthur Jr. “Chub” (Louise).
Joyce’s family would like to thank Park Gardens and PioneerCare in Fergus Falls and Friendship Manor and St Francis Hospital in Shakopee for the loving care she received.
