Funeral services for Joyce Ericksen of Alta will be 1:00 P.M. Monday, July 24, 2017, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta, with Pastor Kim Dewey of the Alta United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Alta. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta.
Joyce Margie Hanssen was born February 13, 1922, the daughter of Hans N. and Agnes (Madsen) Hansen at rural Alta, IA in Elk Township. She lived as a youth in the Alta area helping her dad farm as well as working for Rupert Wilmas at age 12 driving a tractor and 2 row cultivator. She attended both grade school and high school at Fairview School, graduating in 1939. She was baptized and confirmed in the Baptist faith at the Elk Baptist Church, rural Alta. Upon graduation, Joyce worked for Superior Manufacturing in Albert City, Albertson & Company in Sioux City, the Peterson Grocery and Drygoods Store in Alta, and Professional Seed Company of Alta.
On July 4, 1945 she received her engagement ring and on November 11, 1945 she was united in marriage to Wayne W. Ericksen at the Elk Baptist Church, rural Alta. The couple was blessed with two children, Ardell Diane in 1951 and Randall Wilbur in 1953. Wayne and Joyce farmed the Ericksen Homestead west of Alta for 40 years, and in 1992 she moved to her current location in Alta. She continued working with the soil, producing a large garden and enjoyed the fruits of her labor with family, friends and neighbors.
A loving wife and devoted mother, Joyce kept a warm and comfortable home for her family, a home where guests were always welcome. Her faith in God was very important to Joyce, and she passed that love to her family and friends in thought, word, and deed. One of Joyce’s favorite verses was: “To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world.” She was a member of the Alta United Methodist Church for 72 years, where she taught Sunday School, was active in the UMW, and served on the church board. She was a Charter Member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 6172 for 71 years and belonged to neighborhood card groups and Just A Club. Joyce served as a member of the Resident Advocate Committee at Spectra Health Center and on the Meals on Wheels committee for several years.
Working with her husband Wayne on the farm, attending sporting events, fishing, bowling, having her family visit and hosting large meals at the farm for birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and attending Touch of Broadway and BVCT Summer Musical performances brought her great joy. She enjoyed playing games with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially dominos and crazy eights. Joyce will be well remembered for her countless visitations to nursing homes and hospitals to visit family and friends.
Joyce went home on July 19, 2017, at her home in Alta at the age of 95 years, 5 months, and 6 days. She will be dearly missed by all those who loved her.
Joyce was proceeded in death by her parents, Hans N. and Agnes Hansen, her husband, Wayne, daughter, Ardell, great-grandson, Alex Macias, two sisters; Loretta Smith and Maxine and husband Kenneth Miller, and brother Russell and wife Elsie Hansen.
Left to cherish her memory are her son, Randall Ericksen, Alta, granddaughters; Terri and husband Tomas Macias of Perry, IA, Krista and husband Manuel Espinoza of Perry, grandson, Nathan and wife Lydia Rabinowitz of Omaha, and brother-in-law Raymond Deanne and wife Loretta Ericksen of Longmont, CO. Also surviving are six great-grandchildren; Tausha Warriner, Samantha Macias, Teresa and husband Steven Jacobson, Carmela Espinoza and Hector Espinoza all of Perry, and Jaxson Rabinowitz of Omaha, five great-great-grandchildren; Alex Fabio Amerdosh, Jason and Emma Jacobson, Alex Cardona Espinoza and Omar Ruedos all of Perry, and other relatives and friends.