Joyce Gevean Kruckenberg (Jelsing)

Joyce G. (Jelsing) Kruckenberg, 85 of Devils Lake formerly of Rugby, ND passed away on Monday, September 24, 2018 at Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake in the loving care of her family and Altru Hospice.

Funeral Services for Joyce will be held on Friday, September 28, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Tom Westcott officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, September 27^th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will continue on Friday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.

Joyce Gevean was born June 10, 1933 in Rugby, North Dakota to Lewis and Alida (Sand) Jelsing. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

Joyce attended a rural school near Tunbridge, North Dakota and graduated from Rugby High School in 1951. She also attended Minot State College.

After working for some time in West Palm Beach, Florida, she returned to North Dakota. In 1955 Joyce married Robert Bednarz. They made their home in Rugby, ND, where five children were born. Kelly, Robert Jr., Tamara, Brenda, and Jason. In 1964 Joyce and her children moved to Devils Lake where the children attended school and she worked various jobs. She was hired as the first Outreach Worker, six county area, for the Community Action Agency. Later she become the Director of Community Food and Nutrition Program which operated the local canning center and also was employed at Mercy Hospital for several years.

In 1978, Joyce married Dale Kruckenberg. They continued to live and work in Devils Lake. In their early retirement, they spent winters in Arizona and Texas; traveled through Mexico including the Copper Canyon; cruises to Islands and the east and west Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska and the Panama Canal. Joyce and Dale were able to visit most states by car or by bus. A highlight trip was to Norway, land of Joyce’s, cousins and many ancestors. Her ancestry was traced to the 1600s.

Joyce was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary and served as Past President and Treasurer. She was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, the WELCA and served on the Church Council.  Joyce especially enjoyed membership in the Sons of Norway and RSVP. 

Joyce enjoyed her family, home, church, friends and North Dakota. She also enjoyed her flowers in the yard and canning produce grown by Dale in his garden.

Joyce is survived by her husband of 40 years, Dale; children Kelly Bednarz, Devils Lake, Robert Bednarz, Cody, WY, Tamara (Todd) Romine and Brenda Bednarz all of Devils Lake and Jason (Ann) Bednarz, Fargo; grandchildren Josh and Shaun Bednarz; Tyson (Kim) Bednarz and Taylor Bednarz; Jared and Jordan Garcia; Randi (Levi) Heisler, Marsten Bednarz; great grandchildren Macen, Aspen, and Max Heisler; step-son David Kruckenberg, Charleston, NC; sister Lorraine Ohm, Rugby and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Quentin Jelsing and grandson Dane Garcia.

Casket Bearers for Joyce will be her grandsons Tyson Bednarz, Taylor Bednarz, Jared Garcia, Jordan Garcia, Marsten Bednarz, Shawn Bednarz and grandson-in-law Levi Heisler. Reading the Scripture will be Randi Heisler. Music will be provided by Rick Senger, vocalist and Jean Aardalh, pianist. 

Memorials may be directed to the charity of the donor’s choice in memory of Joyce.