Joyce Nikolaisen died Friday, December 1, 2017 at Johnson Memorial Assisted Living at the age of 87.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 11:00 AM with visitation 1 hour prior at Providence Valley Lutheran Church. Rev. Kendall Stelter will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.
Joyce Vernetta (Nelson) Nikolaisen was born in Montevideo on September 7, 1930 to Oscar and Ruth (Larson) Nelson. She was baptized at Israel Lutheran Church and confirmed at Clarkfield Evangelical Lutheran Church. As a child, she spent countless hours on her grandparents' farm enjoying time with many cousins, aunts and uncles. Joyce attended and graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1948. She participated in the choir, cheerleading and was Homecoming Queen. Following graduation Joyce worked 2 years in the Clarkfield School office.
On July 1, 1950 Joyce was united in marriage to Nels Robert Nikolaisen at Clarkfield Lutheran. Bob and Joyce spent two years at Camp Rucker, Alabama where their first child, Debra was born. They returned to Minnesota and lived on a farm in Lac qui Parle County. They had three more children together: Cindy, Steve and Tami. Joyce was very active on the farm and later worked as an accountant in Canby. Joyce was active in the Providence Valley Church as a Sunday School teacher, church financial secretary and member of the Lutheran Church Women.
Joyce and Bob spent many winters in Arizona. They quickly became friends with many people from all over the US and Canada. Arizona was a beloved second home for them. They loved to travel and were members of the Holiday Rambler Club which took them to many sites in the US and Mexico. They also traveled extensively abroad.
Joyce loved many activities including bowling, fishing, golfing and playing cards, the latter two continuing into her final days. Family was the most important part of Joyce’s life. She truly enjoyed spending precious time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After Bob’s death in 1997, Joyce left the farm and moved to Dawson. She continued to spend winters in Arizona, where she met her special friend George Burgess. Joyce and George loved golfing, dancing, playing cards and traveling. They were blessed to have spent this precious time together for almost 15 years.
On August 30, 2017, Joyce moved into Assisted Living in Dawson. She enjoyed exchanging stories and sharing memories with her new “family” there.
Joyce is survived by her children: Debra (Lon) Bencini, Minneapolis, Cindy (Larry) Thoen, Shoreview, and Tami ( Greg) Bothun, Dawson; 8 grandchildren: Nik Bencini, Ema Thoen, Kevin Thoen, Molly (Chris) Troutman, Cori (Brook) Bothun, Joseph (Tristin) Bothun, Kristin (Paul) Daline, and Brian Bothun; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Donna Provost, Minnetonka and special friend, George Burgess, BC; as well as other extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bob, and her son, Steve and great-grandson, Landon.
Blessed be her memory!