Please click on the video tribute below to view Joyce's funeral and burial services.

Joyce Swenson, 85, Fertile, MN died on Friday, November 27, 2020 at Benedictine Care Community, Ada, MN, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Joyce Marie Nichols was born to Roy and Luella Nichols on March 5, 1935. She learned how to play piano early in life and often played with one of her best friends who was also named Joyce. They were playfully nicknamed Joyce and Re-Joyce. After graduating from Clawson High School in Clawson, MI, she continued her studies in secretarial school. Joyce began exchanging letters with Carroll Swenson while he was stationed in Korea. Their letters turned into love letters and they were married on April 2, 1955.

Playing organ and piano and singing at St John's Lutheran Church was one of Joyce's favorite activities. She also accompanied her six daughters on piano when they often sang together at events and was the accompanist for God's Messengers, an outreach singing group.

Joyce made a point to find a babysitter many Saturday nights so that she and Carroll could join their square dancing group, a pastime they both enjoyed. Her daughters remember the large amount of baking she did while they were at school and her family always looked forward to her delicious homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, cakes, and bars.

As her daughters entered high school, Joyce began working as a bookkeeper at Gary Ag Service and later at Cenex Oil, both in Gary, Minnesota. Joyce enjoyed her work as a bookkeeper as she had a talent for numbers and organization. She also helped as a treasurer for the Gary Legion and other local organizations.

Later in life, Joyce enjoyed traveling with Carroll to new places but mostly loved visiting her daughters and their families and spending time with her grandchildren. She treasured the times her girls, sons-in-law, and grandkids were at the farm for a visit.

Joyce is survived by her daughters, Nancy (Bill) Korbl, Marstons Mills, MA, Jeanette Swenson, Fargo, ND, Patty Peshek, San Clemente, CA,  Laurie (John) Price, Chardon, OH, Karen (Michael) Lanners, Victoria, MN, and Diane (Chuck) Littlefield, Fertile, MN. She was also blessed with ten grandchildren, Blaine Korbl, Tye (Linnea) Korbl, Darren (Natalie) Peshek, Turell (Blake) Danson, Brandon and Jaret Price, Austin, Quinn, and Jack Lanners, and Kelli (Dave) Pawloski, as well as eight great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Laverne Gibbins; and brother-in-law, Dennis Swenson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll; parents, Roy and Luella; and her brother, Ervin.

Condolences may be sent to: Diane Littlefield, 4211 County Hwy 1, Fertile, MN 56540.

Funeral : Due to current restrictions, a private, immediate family only service will take place on Friday, December 11, 2020 at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN, following all of the Minnesota and CDC COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. Upon request, a Realtime Zoom invite may be requested by contacting seaside@cox.net . A recording of the funeral and burial services for Joyce will be available on the Erikson-Vik-Ganje website within a few days.

Interment : St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fertile, MN

Please view our guestbook and share condolences online for the family.