Joyce Marion Nielson

Joyce Marion Nielson passed away peacefully at 88 years old surrounded by her family Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 at Libby Care Center. She was born March 5, 1928 in Thief River Falls, Minn. to Pete and Caroline Mellem and was the youngest of eight children. She grew up on a farm and had wonderful memories of her family life.

Joyce worked briefly as a secretary at a law firm before meeting her future husband, Gerald H. Nielson on a blind date. They married on Jan. 14, 1956. They were married for almost 61 years. Joyce was a wife, homemaker and mother of three children. Joyce taught Sunday school at the Lutheran church in Minnesota for many years before moving to Montana.

Joyce loved making cookies, playing cards, listening to country and bluegrass music, dancing and traveling. Joyce and Jerry made many trips to Branson, Mo. for concerts. They frequently visited Arizona, and also made trips to Alaska and Hawaii. You could see them often at the VFW dancing and having fun with friends, usually the last ones off the dance floor. She had a great sense of humor and was a loving and kind person to all.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters, a son Jeffrey Nielson and a granddaughter Kerri Lynn Dofelmire.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Gerald; daughter Cynda Dofelmire and her husband Barry Dofelmire, their children Richard Nielson and Mary Dofelmire and grandchildren; daughter Carol Lisle and her husband Gary Lisle and their children and grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be made to www.schnackenbergfh.com.