Joyce Marie Erickson

Joyce M. Erickson, 60 of Starkweather, ND passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at the Rolette Community Care Center, Rolette, ND. A Celebration of Joyce’s life will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church, Starkweather, ND with Rev. Robert Buechler officiating. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday, December 11th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday one hour prior to the funeral service. Music will be provided by Dennis J. Dockter. Joyce Marie Erickson, daughter of Ernest and Betty (Patton) Erickson was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1953 in Devils Lake, ND. She grew up in Starkweather and graduated from Starkweather with the class of 1971. As a student, she participated in band, chorus and several other school activities and organizations. She excelled in band, playing the saxophone and was the recipient of the John Philip Sousse Award. Joyce married Kenny Eback in 1973. They lived in several small towns in North Dakota and in the Lake Region area. Joyce attended Lake Region State College and received licensure as an LPN in 1983. She worked in various nursing homes and also at the ND School for the Deaf. Joyce worked hard to provide for her family and frequently worked 2 and 3 jobs at a time. Many remember Joyce as a waitress at the 313 or a housekeeper at the Artclare hotel or several private homes. As her health failed, Joyce was forced to retire and became a resident of the Rolette Community Care Center in September. Joyce continued to keep music as an important part of her life and played the Alto and Tenor Sax in the Devils Lake Elks Band and also the accordion and sax in the Aristocrats Dance Band. Joyce received her green belt in Tae Kwon Do. She loved the outdoors especially if it meant riding horse or playing with her pet dogs. She was a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis, a cause very dear to her heart, as her mother was afflicted with MS. Joyce was a very quite soft spoken woman but her heart spoke volumes of her love for her children, granddaughter, brother and other family and friends. Joyce is survived by her daughters Rachael and her husband, Luke Leitch; Rebecca Eback all of Devils Lake, ND and granddaughter Megan Leitch; brother Richard Erickson of Chandler, AZ; 2 nieces and 1 nephew Susan, Michelle and David; aunt Bernice Erickson of Devils Lake, ND first cousins Carol, Don, Judy and Cheryl. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister-in-law, Victoria Erickson, grandparents, several aunts and uncles and cousin, Dennis Schultz.