Joyce M. Vincent, age 98, of Erwin, SD, passed away to meet the Lord at Jenkin’s Living Center in Watertown, SD.
Funeral services took place at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 20, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bryant, SD. Pastor Dave Nerdig officiated with music provided by Deb Anderson as organist and Tristin Gruenhagen as vocalist. Active pallbearers were Joyce’s grandchildren: Bill Vincent, Angel Obenauer, Johnny Vincent, Bud Vincent, Cheryl Harming, Justin Vincent, and Buster Vincent. Honorary pallbearers were Joyce’s great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. The service will be live-streamed via the Crawford-Osthus website.
Burial was at Erwin Cemetery following the service.
Visitation was held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bryant, SD.
The family requests memorials be made in Joyce’s name to Erwin Cemetery, West Bethany Cemetery, and Bryant’s Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.
Joyce was born on the family farm near Erwin, SD, to Andrew and Kathryn (Neu) Jensen on Dec. 30, 1925. She grew up during the Great Depression and the dust storms of the 30s. She attended country school through the Eighth grade and graduated from Erwin High School. Joyce attended Madison Normal College to earn a certificate to teach in country schools.
Joyce taught a country school in Kingsbury County until she married Walter Vincent who was home on leave from the Navy on April 13, 1946. Joyce and Walter began of life of farming near Erwin, SD, and a mile from Joyce’s parent’s farm. They raised their family and farmed the land from 1946 until Walter’s death in 2008. She continued the farm with her three sons until she became a resident at the Jenkin’s Living Center in 2022.
Joyce was very involved with her church. She was a member of West Bethany Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School, Bible school, and confirmation classes for many years. When West Bethany closed, she became a board member for the West Bethany Cemetery. She became a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bryant, SD, where she taught some confirmation classes and joined many church organizations. Joyce became a devoted member of the women’s quilting group.
As a farm wife, she shared the work needed to farm and raise livestock. She was able to do this and still raise her family with Christian values, stay devoted to church activities, and find time to stay involved with school and sport activities of her three sons, her grandkids, and her great-grandkids along with two great-great-grandkids.
Joyce is survived by her three sons: Terry (Patty) Vincent of Brookings, SD, Andy (Betty) Vincent of Lake Preston, SD, and John (Marlys) Vincent of Lake Preston, SD; seven grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband, Walter; her parents, Andrew and Kathryn (Neu) Jensen; two sisters, Margaret Bonebrake and Helen Larson; and one brother, Clarence Jensen.