Joan Gunnarson

Joan A. Gunnarson, age 85, New Effington, passed away Thursday, April 27, 2023, at St. Gerard's Community of Care in Hankinson.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, May 3, at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in New Effington officiated by Rev. Karie Geyer.  Music will be provided by Deb Bredvik, Janeen Kohl, Linda Loberg, and Melanie Yost.

Burial will be in the Garden of Rest Cemetery, New Effington. Honorary pallbearers will be Joan's great-grandchildren and the staff and residents of Edgewood in Sisseton. Active pallbearers will be Joan's grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt and will continue Wednesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Joan Ardell was born August 7, 1937, to Kenneth and Lorraine (Stowe) Westby in Sisseton, SD. She was baptized in the New Effington Lutheran Church and confirmed at Brandvold Lutheran Church near Victor. She attended school in New Effington, graduating from New Effington High School in 1955. Joan then went to NDSCS for a business degree.

On December 20, 1958, Joan married Orace Gunnarson at the home of her parents. Together, Orace and Joan raised four daughters, Jody, Wendy, Julie and Pamela. Joan worked side by side with Orace on their dairy farm for many years. She also waitressed at the Victor Supper Club and mowed lawn at Faith Lutheran Church, Garden of Rest Cemetery, and at the Roadside Park.

Joan belonged to Faith Lutheran Church and was a member of the church council. She also served on the New Effington School Board. Joan enjoyed reading, her cats, and going on trips with family members. She especially loved attending her grandchildren's activities.

Survivors include her husband, Orace of Sisseton; daughters, Jody (James) Kutter of Lidgerwood, ND, Wendy (Patrick) Stickland of Sisseton, Julie (William) Otto of Hartford, SD, and Pamela Gunnarson of Cheyenne, WY; grandchildren, Dana Kutter, Joshua (Kellie) Stickland, Shawn (Samantha) Stickland, Cory (Lisa) Stickland, Krista (Jacob) Driscoll, Brandi (Marty) Petersen, Tara (Tait) Johannsen, Logan (Josette) Otto, Cody (Courtney) Haynes, and Austin (Schyler) Fagnant; great-grandchildren, Carter, Jackson, Alex, and Hunter Stickland, Hardin, Ree, Lennon, Rowan, and Vada Stickland, Ally Amborn, Daxton, Malakai, and Maizey Driscoll, Brooks and Otto Petersen, Cora Johannsen, Liam and Opal Otto, Desmond and Wesson Haynes, Madalynn and Brooklyn Boyke, Raylee Stacener, and Kohen Whitt; and sister, Dianne (Duane) Knebel of Watertown, SD.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Lorraine Westby; sister-in-law, Oriette Aagard; brothers-in-law, Marlowe Stenson and William Aagard; and granddaughters, Michelle Kutter and Eleanor Fagnant.