Joyce Christine Sundblad was born on October 25, 1936 in Bradford, Township, MN, the daughter of Clarence and Marguerite (Burhans) Ross. She grew up on a farm with her seven siblings in Wilken County. She married Raymond Sundblad on March 13, 1953. Together they lived on a farm near Erhard, MN before moving to Ashby, MN where they raised their three daughters Deborah, JudyLynn, and Barbara Jo. Joyce worked and raised her three daughters and then retired to care for her husband and her mother. After Ray’s death in January of 1994, Joyce spent her time with her daughters and their families and spent winters in Mesa, AZ with her sister, Sally, and families. Joyce also volunteered her time at Trinity & Bethesda Lutheran Churches, the Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Foundation, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Associations and at Ashby Legion Auxiliary.
Joyce later married Palmer Torgimson of Ashby on February 17, 2001. She was thrilled to have another daughter, son and grandchildren.
Throughout Joyce’s life, family and friends were very important to her. She always had a smile and a hug for everyone with a very kind, gentle and compassionate heart. Joyce loved to cook, entertain, was an avid walker, loved playing cards and reading. Joyce took each of her grandchildren on a special trip. Ray and Joyce wanted to show them their love and how proud they were of each one of them. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Joyce C. Sundblad died on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 with her daughters and grandchildren all lovingly by her side at the Douglas County Hospital at the age of 78 years old. She is survived by her daughters Deborah (Larry) Odens, of Detroit Lakes, JudyLynn (Myron) Guhlke of Osakis, and Barbara Jo (Tom) Keller of Lakeville; step-daughter Becky (Larry) Nelson and her family of Ashby; step-son Larry Torgrimson and his family of Rochester; eight grandchildren Chad (Tena) Odens, Erich Odens, Ryan (Nikki) Odens, Jeremy (Sarah) Guhlke, Manda (Corey) Blenker, Christine Guhlke, Jenny (Jules) Gonzales, Nick (Nikki) Myogeto; step-grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren; sister Sally (Stan) Fiala; brother Dennis (Diane) Ross; aunts, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond Sundblad, husband Palmer Torgrimson, brothers Donnie, Duane, and Ronnie, and sisters Lorraine and Clarice.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 10AM at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Alexandria with the Reverend Jerry Lanes officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Inurnment will be in Pelican Lake Cemetery near Ashby, MN. Urn Bearers are Joyce’s grandsons and Honorary Urn Bearers are all of Joyce’s Great Grandchildren.
Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria, MN.
www.andersonfuneral.net.