Joyce Kaufman

Joyce B. Kaufman, 90, Wahpeton, ND, went to her Heavenly Home on Sunday, May 15, 2016.

Funeral services will be Thursday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley with the Rev. Paul Warnier officiating.  Music will be provided by Ginny Westbrock.

Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery, Rosholt, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be the Zion Lutheran Ladies Aid group. Active pallbearers will be Todd Kaufman, Chad Armstrong, Jon Kaufman, Scott Birney and Michael Gerou.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt. Visitation will continue Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Joyce was born November 4, 1925, to Harry and Clara (Hanson) Miller in Browns Valley. She was baptized and confirmed at Trondhjem Lutheran Church, rural Rosholt. Joyce attended country school through the 8th grade.

On November 24, 1946, Joyce married Bill Kaufman at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley. They made their home in Bryant Township, SD, on a farm overlooking Lake Traverse. It was there they proudly raised their two sets of twins. They retired from farming in 1987, but continued to enjoy living on their farm. Bill passed away on December 19, 2009. Shortly after, Joyce moved to Wahpeton, ND, so she could live close by her family.

Joyce was active in her church as a Sunday school teacher, member of the Ladies Aid and the devotion study group. She was also a charter member of the Bryant Township Auxiliary and a leader of the Boy Scouts.

Joyce's many hobbies were a great source of joy to her.  Her flower beds adorned the farm, as well as the yard which she loved to mow. After their retirement, Bill, too, got a green thumb and they enjoyed going to greenhouses together for the many flowers they would plant. She also loved to garden, and she would often wonder how many thousands of jars of food she had canned throughout the years. Joyce learned to embroider and crochet as a young girl, a hobby that she enjoyed throughout her life. Her collection of angels filled their home, and she adored each and every one.

Joyce especially enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors that would come to visit. Many good times were spent at the kitchen table, whether it be a card game, playing dominos or cribbage, or just to enjoy a visit. Everyone was treated to her "goodies" she would make, and many cups of coffee.

Most precious to Joyce was her family. She loved to brag about her "two sets of twins," and later, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Holidays at their farm were looked forward to by everyone. Joyce put her heart and soul into making everyone's favorites, including homemade bread, lefse and krumkake. Her cookie jar was never empty; the coffee was always on. Their home was always a welcome place for whoever visited. Joyce will always be fondly remembered for being a giver, a spoiler to her dog, Bailey, for being the heart of her family, for always giving a "two thumbs up," and for being the angel her family admired and loved.

Survivors include her children, Linda Larson of Casper, WY, Pam (Randy) Armstrong of Wahpeton, ND, and Paul Kaufman (Stephanie Rivers) of Breckenridge MN; grandchildren, Leah Larson, Todd (Kim) Kaufman, Chad (Jenny) Armstrong, Angie (Scott) Birney, Kristi (Michael) Gerou,  Jon (Alisha) Kaufman, and "adopted" granddaughter, Sonya Klemm; 13 great-grandchildren, Jake, Cameron, Mackenzie, Jazmyn, Nycolas, Emily, Ella, Emari, Jazzy, Star, Rachel, Carter and Journey; brother, Dean (Dorothy) Miller of Beardsley, MN; and sister, Marion Saide of Heyward, CA. Also dear to her heart was Rose Kaufman.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Kaufman; son and daughter in-law, Larry "Butch" and Yvonne Kaufman; granddaughter, Sue Larson; son-in-law, Lynn Larson; sisters, Helen Weeks, Ramona Schueller, Ardyce McKee and Dorothy Leverson; and brothers, Eli and Willis Miller.