Joyce Smith

Joyce Smith, 92, of Benson, died on Monday evening, July 11, 2022, at the Meadow Lane Restorative Care Center in Benson. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 24, at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Benson, MN, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and will continue on Monday, July 25, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by the memorial service at 10:00 am. Interment will be in Benson City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ. Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Joyce Smith was born on June 29, 1930, on the home farm in DeGraff, Minnesota, the daughter of Clarence and Rose Friedlein Valentine. She grew up on the family farm and attended District 32 country school in Murdock. She was confirmed at Kerkhoven Lutheran Church and graduated from Murdock High School in 1948.

On June 10, 1949, Joyce was united in marriage to Perry Huston Smith at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Benson.  This union was blessed with over 67 years of marriage. She was a homemaker and worked for the Benson Telephone Office, Hecker Hardware in DeGraff, and together Joyce and Perry owned and operated Perry’s Oil and Tire in Benson. Joyce was a member of Pilgrim Congregational Church where she was active in women’s fellowship, the bazaar group, and taught Sunday school.

Joyce and Perry loved to travel and were able to visit all but two of the fifty states, and also Spain, and Portugal. She enjoyed sewing, reading, completing the daily puzzle corner and doing puzzles and coloring on her iPad. She cheered on the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. Most of all, Joyce loved spending time with her family, especially her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was called from this life on Monday evening July 11, 2022, at the Meadow Lane Care Center. She attained the age of 92 years and 11 days.

Joyce is survived by her eight children: Sandra (Steve) Miller of Atwater, Vicki (Steve) Madsen of Morton, Kathryn Walsh of Murdock, Beverly (Pat) Byrne of DeGraff, Richard (Lucy) Smith of Paso Robles, California, Janice (Frank) Carlson of Hanover, Karen (Todd) Sester of Rogers, and Angela (Darren) Schultz of Crystal; 23 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren; and a brother Lee Valentine of Colorado. She is preceded in death by her husband, Perry, in June of 2016; her parents Clarence and Rose, granddaughter Renae Madsen, grandson Dan Volney, great grandson, Joshua Orellana, and five siblings. Joyce was known for her gentle, loving spirit and making those around her feel they were seen, heard and loved. Blessed be her memory.