Joyce Nelson, age 64, of Ulen, MN, passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at the Sanford Palliative Care Unit in Fargo, ND.

Joyce Virginia, and her fraternal twin sister, Joy, were born on October 13, 1949, to Orlyn and Kathryn (Fuglie) Nelson in Moorhead, MN. As a young girl, Joyce lived with her family on the farm near Ulen. Despite being paralyzed and unable to walk, Joyce was a happy and fearless youngster. At the age of six, she became a patient at Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul, MN. While there she had several operations to help with her paralysis but always looked forward to visits from her parents. Joyce was tutored at Gillette where she learned to read and write. She enjoyed her summers at home on the farm and would return to Gillette in the fall. Joyce returned home to live on the farm when she was 10 and continued her education with several different tutors. When she was 15, Joyce moved to Brainerd, MN, where she furthered her education and also learned to care for herself. In 1973, she became a resident of Lutheran Memorial Nursing Home in Twin Valley where she made her home for 36 years. In 2009, Joyce returned to her hometown of Ulen and has resided at the Viking Manor Nursing Home since that time.
Joyce had many hobbies and always stayed busy. She spent countless hours making stocking caps on her loom and loved putting together puzzles. She watched Jeopardy as often as she could and was the best at Trivial Pursuit. Above all, Joyce was an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan and loved to tell jokes. Despite all the physical hardships in her life, she maintained a great attitude and touched the hearts of many.

Joyce is survived by her mother, Kathryn of Ulen; her twin sister, Joy (David) Stumbo of Moorhead, MN; and two brothers, Donald (Victoria) of Longmont, CO and Doug (Nancy) of Ramsey, MN; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Orlyn and one niece, Erin Stumbo.

Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2014, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen, with Pastor Mike Ruckert officiating. Carol Lockhart and Susan Green provided music. Serving as pallbearers were Janie Trutwin, Luke Nelson, Wendy Ring, LeAnn Moos, and Michael Stumbo. All of the Staff at Viking Manor Nursing Home were honorary pallbearers. Visitation was at Bethlehem Lutheran Church from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.

Burial was in North Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Ulen.