Joyce Pearson

Joyce Pearson, 83 of Viborg died Thursday, November 21, 2024 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Viborg.  Funeral services will be at 10:30am Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at Spring Valley Lutheran Church, rural Viborg with burial in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-7pm Monday evening at the church with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm.  Arrangements by Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home.

The service will be livestreamed on the church facebook page, www.facebook.com/SpringValleyLutheranChurch .

Joyce Ilene (Welfl) Pearson was born December 18, 1940 in Springfield, SD to Lawrence and Nina Welfl. She joined Gerald, Rosezella, Ivan and later Carol Mae.

Joyce grew up in different communities in South Dakota. She graduated from Viborg High School. Shortly after graduation Joyce met her life long dancing partner, Allen Pearson and the two wed on June 14th 1959. The two were married 49 years before Allen’s death on October 17, 2008.

Joyce was a stay-at-home housewife and the two of them made up their family of 5 children.  Rex, Rodney, Jeff, Jolyn and Tammy.  While the kids were growing up Joyce worked at Sunset Manor in Irene for a few years.

Joyce will be missed by her sons Rodney (Sandy) Pearson, Jeff (friend Sara Papke) and daughters Jolyn (Bob) Ryken, and Tammy (Bud) Zimmerman.  Sister-in-law Helen Welfl of DeSmet SD.  Grandchildren Jessica (Andy) Schott, Derek (Ashton) Pearson, Rick Pearson, Megan Ryken, Andrea Ryken, Josh (Teresa) Zimmerman, Tonya (Justin) Rudd, Branden (Kelli) Zimmerman.  She also leaves behind 13 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Allen, son Rex, daughter in law Rita, her parents Lawrence and Nina Welfl, brothers Gerald and Ivan, sisters and brother in laws Rosezella (Edward) Olsen and Carol Mae (Harris) Dahlquist.