Joyce Evelyn Risty, age 95, of Garretson, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Monday, February 27, 2023, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Interment will be in the Brandon Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Friday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to your favorite charity.
Joyce was born on December 11, 1927, to Arthur and Effie (Fuqua) Benson in rural Rock County, Minnesota. She attended country school and graduated from Garretson High School. She attended Augustana College and received her teaching degree. She then taught at Letcher, South Dakota for one year. On June 5, 1948, she married Austin Risty at Palisade Lutheran Church. Together they celebrated 71 years of marriage on the Risty farm where they raised their family.
Joyce was a very active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson, where she was active in the ZLCW and quilting group. Joyce loved her flowers and yard. Her kind, gentle, generous spirit was always on display. A great cook, her homemade pies always brought top dollar for area fundraisers. She loved playing cards and board games and had a very competitive nature. Hanging out with her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, were some of her most cherished moments. Joyce was loved by all of them and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Survivors include her children: Guy (Connie) Risty, St. James, MN, Mary (David) Stoterau, Sioux Falls, Bert (Barb) Risty, Sherman, John (Cheryl) Risty, LeMars, IA, Karen (Eldon) Kolander, Lakefield, MN, Sharon (Tom) Snyder, Aberdeen; 14 grandchildren; several great and great great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Elaine Benson and Dorothy Risty; brother-in-law, Robert Waring, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Austin on May 23, 2019, her parents; and her brothers, Nels and Norman Benson; sisters-in-law, Shirley Williamson, Betsy Shafer, Mary Datri, and Gertrude Waring; brothers-in-law, Perry Williamson, Herb Shafer, Joe Datri, and Matt Schon.
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