Joyce Ramona Edwardson

Joyce Ramona Edwardson, 90, Fargo, formerly of Rolla, ND, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, September 29, 2019, at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, where she lived the last five years.

The birth of Joyce on December 30, 1928 in Rolla brought great joy to Peter and Helena (Lenz) Edwardson. They were especially happy because they’d had a daughter, Marlene, 4 years before who had died of pneumonia. They lived on a farm by Mylo where Joyce attended 8 years of school at Ellsworth Rural School. She liked to ride horses and had a Shetland pony, “Beauty", and a dog that she trained to pull a wagon and a sled. She graduated from Rolla High School in 1946 where she was an honor student and played clarinet in band.

She moved to Grand Forks in the fall of 1946 and worked at Valley Motor Company where she was a secretary for 3 years. While in Grand Forks Joyce participated in the Miss America contest in 1949. She then returned to Rolla to work at the bank.

She married Lyle Johnson in June 1951 and of this union, 5 children were born. They lived on the family farm in Mylo where she was a stay-at-home mom; she loved to garden and bake. Joyce was an avid bowler and began league bowing in 1957. She won many local and state tournaments with various teams and as an individual. She bowled through the years with her parents, children and grandchildren in tournaments and even at nationals in 1995 in Mandan. Joyce won 1st place in the state tournament in 1995. Joyce continued to bowl until 1996 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, leaving her unable to bowl.

Joyce married Harlan (Jake) Jacobsen in May 1972. They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States in their Transvan, playing cards, and bowling; they were great dancers and were fun to watch. They liked taking trips to visit the children and spending time with the grandkids. Joyce owned a used clothing store, Nu Tu U, on Main Street in Rolla from 1990-1993 and that kept her days busy.

Joyce was an ardent Elvis Presley fan; she had a house filled with memorabilia and very rarely missed a chance to see an Elvis impersonator. She was active in church, singing in the choir and quilting with her friends. She also enjoyed making quilts at home for her family who all have received a handmade quilt from her. Joyce’s family will remember her delicious homemade buns, caramel rolls, cherry pies and her love for the casino. Also, her unique way of saying hello “yello!” when answering the phone and her infamous “wwwwwwell” in response to some of the family’s corny conversations. We will miss the stories of her shenanigans, but they will forever make us laugh.

She is survived by son Brian (Jackie) Johnson, Fargo, ND; daughter Diane (Howard) Donner, Sherman, TX; grandchildren, Julie Strait-Fode (John Fode III), West Fargo, ND; Jennifer (Jeff) Jaszkowiak, West Fargo, ND; Lucas Johnson, Fargo, ND, Charlie Johnson, Fargo, ND; J.C. (Erin) Donner, Spearfish, SD; Alicia Donner, Sioux Falls, SD; Lindsey Donner, Monte Vista, CO; great-grandchildren Josalyn Fode, Logan Jaszkowiak, Trinity Jaszkowiak, Jonah Donner, Jacob Donner, Jayden Donner. She is preceded in death by her sister, Marlene, her parents Pete and Lena Edwardson, sons Bradley Johnson and Curtis Johnson, daughter Linda (Johnson) Strait, and granddaughter Erica (Strait) Cox.

Joyce lived a long and full life, truly living the words of her favorite song ~ “My Way.”