Joyce Johnk

Joyce Johnk of Montevideo died on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Brookside Manor at the age of 81. 

Funeral services will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, November 8 at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo.

Visitation with the family will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home and continue one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Joyce Arlene (Estrin) Johnk was born in Moorhead, MN on December 9, 1942 to Clifford and Ethelyn (Anderson) Estrin. The family made their home in Dilworth, Moorhead, Hibbing and Glyndon. She graduated from Glyndon in 1960. Following high school she worked for Bell Telephone as an operator in Fargo. In 1961 Joyce was united in marriage to Dennis Johnk in Glyndon, Minnesota. They moved to Murdock in 1961 until 1967 and then moved to Montevideo. Joyce and Dennis had three children, Michael, Yvonne, and Eric. Besides raising her family, Joyce worked as a teacher’s assistant in the Montevideo Schools for over 23 years. She also ran the Gallery Gift shop with her sister for a couple of years.

Joyce was a very talented quilter and crafter. She made many quilts to give to family and friends. She also made Barbie Doll clothes, bears and dolls. Joyce enjoyed entertaining family and friends and preparing meals for special holidays. Family remembers Joyce’s perfectly round lefse and was surprised at her secret trick for achieving those perfect lefse rounds.

Due to the generosity of family, Joyce was able to assist and travel on cruises to the Baltic, Caribbean, Hawaii, and Alaska. She also did a month long road trip through Europe with relatives. Her passion for exploration inspired those around her to seek out new experiences and appreciate the beauty of the world. Joyce’s adventurous spirit will be deeply missed, but the memories of her travels will forever be cherished by all who knew her.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Dennis; children: Michael (Virginia) Johnk, Park Rapids, MN, Eric “Rick” Johnk, Aubrey, TX; son-in-law, Myron Bluhm, Clara City; grandchildren: Kayla Johnk, Bloomington, MN, Dustin Bluhm, Kindred, ND, Derek (Amanda) Bluhm, Clara City, MN; great- grandchildren: Skylynn Bluhm, Teagan Bluhm, Taelynn Bluhm; sisters: Joanne (John) Gedker, Austin, MN, Lynda (Lowell) Schultz, Cambridge, MN; sister-in-law, Carol Estrin, Breckenridge, MN and several nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Ethelyn Estrin; daughter, Yvonne Bluhm; brother, Gary Estrin; nephew, Daniel Gedker; daughter-in-law, Janell Johnk; parents-in-law Ella and Ernest Johnk; brother-in-law, Duane Johnk; and sister-in-laws Marilyn Johnk and Janet Johnk.

Blessed be her memory