Joyce Patricia Anderson, 81, of Amery, Wisconsin, passed away on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, after a long battle against cancer.

Joyce was born on May 20, 1930 in Nye, Wisconsin, to Edna and Einar Johnson. She was the oldest of 3 girls who all lived and worked on the family farm. She attended Ubet Rural School. After graduating from Osceola High School, Joyce attended Polk County Normal School in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, to earn her teaching certificate. She began her teaching career at Oak Knoll School in East Farmington and later taught at the Wanderoos Rural School. Joyce married Joyle Harlan Anderson on June 16, 1953 in Dresser, Wisconsin. They moved to the family farm in Deronda, where they raised crops, chickens and cattle. They had 3 children and have been life-long residents of Polk County, moving from the family farm to their current residence on Bear Trap Lake in 1973. Joyce was very family-oriented and took a break from teaching in 1961 to dedicate her efforts to her family, taking care of home activities and child-rearing duties, while Joyle was Amery's Postmaster and a construction contractor. In addition to maintaining the home and supporting all of her childrens' activities she also did volunteer work, took college credits and was an insatiable reader. She continued coursework begun in 1959 at UW-River Falls to complete an Elementary Education major with an Art Education minor. She was a Senior Gold R Recipient and earned her Lifetime Teaching Certificate in 1966. Joyce resumed her teaching career at D.K. Lien Elementary School in 1980 and accepted a full time teaching position in 1986 where she became well known for her classroom expertise, organization, and design, demonstrating the very best and inspiring the same in her students. Many organizations benefited from Joyce's volunteer efforts, including the Deronda WELCA (President, Secretary, Treasurer), Amery Senior Center, Red Cross, Deronda Lutheran Church Quilters, Little Falls Livewires and Deronda Diplomats 4-H Clubs, Northern Lakes Center for the Arts, Deronda Sunday School (teacher, superintendent, VBS), the Polk County Historical Society (lifetime member). Joyce was also an active supporter of many school organizations including the Amery Band. Joyce retired from teaching at the age of 72 (completing a 32 year teaching career) and strengthened her volunteer efforts even further, in addition to supporting her grandchildren in all of their various activities. She authored a book titled Half Norwegian…Half Swede with her sister Arlene; publishing and selling the book specifically to raise funds for the new Deronda Lutheran Church building project. Joyce had many talents. She was an accomplished baker and there was always competition to buy her mouth-watering Swedish Tea Rings at the area bake sales. She was also well-known for her Swedish meatballs, breads and krumkake. This devoted Grandmother always had homemade cookies and treats available for all of her grandchildren, as well as any other visitors. Many remember Joyce mowing their 2 acre lawn with her push mower, her artwork and craft projects, as well as her meticulous attention to detail in everything she did. Joyce is survived by her husband, Joyle; 3 children, Brad (Aleta) Anderson, Tracy (Jeff Claussen) Anderson, and Teri (Jay) Anderson-Hoyer; 6 grandchildren, Kelsey (Adam) Bailey, Madeline Anderson, Christian Hoyer, Heather Claussen, Alliana Hoyer, Asa Hoyer; sisters Arlene (Ellsworth) Johnson and Beverly (Frank) Huberty.

Funeral services will be Tuesday April 17 at 11:00 a.m. at Deronda Lutheran Church in rural Amery. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Williamson-White Funeral Home and for the hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Deronda Cemetery.