JoAnn Faye (Hetland) Harter, age 77, of Shelly, MN passed away on December 22, 2022 at her residence in Shelly.

JoAnn was born in Ada on June 6, 1945, the younger of 2 children born to Alfred and Evelyn (Johnson) Hetland. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, in Good Hope Township, where she was baptized and confirmed.  JoAnn attended elementary school at Lincoln School in Good Hope and graduated in 1963 from Halstad High School. After high school, JoAnn worked in Halstad for Dr. Brown and later at St. Ansgar Hospital in Moorhead in the insurance department. Following this, she was employed at Warner and Company and Northern Water Works in Fargo. She taught accordion lessons in Moorhead for United Music. She married Robert Anderson and divorced. After a few years, she moved back to Shelly and worked for the Valley Journal and later Diversified Printers in Halstad. She married Duane Harter and divorced. JoAnn resided in Shelly and managed her family farm, until later selling the land. She owned and operated Treasure Hut Antiques on Mainstreet in Shelly.

JoAnn enjoyed piano, accordion, reading all types of books, flowers, bird watching/feeding, animals and rummage sales. JoAnn became the family genealogist, connecting with Scandinavian ancestors, and publishing the family history books for all to cherish, in addition to co-writing a family cookbook.  She enjoyed a good joke and poetry.  For several years, JoAnn wrote the Shelly news that was published in the local papers which typically included some humor with a joke or 2 at the end of the news update, as well as recipes.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her older brother Dennis Hetland and parents; Alfred and Evelyn (Johnson) Hetland, among many special cousins, aunts, uncles, and pets. She leaves behind generations of family and close friends, as well as her beloved dog, Willow.

A memorial service and interment will be at Bethany Lutheran Church, Shelly, MN on Saturday, June 24 at 10:30am.

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