Joyce Annette Roepke died peacefully in her sleep at Elysian Memory Care in Chanhassen, MN on February 2, 2025 at the age of 81 years old. She was a proud North Dakota native born on the family farm near Merricourt, ND to Phillip and Emily Young on Oct 22, 1943. She was one of eleven children. She grew up on that same family farm and graduated from Kulm, ND High School in 1961.
She moved to Hutchinson, MN in 1962 and married Roger Wayne Rice in 1963. They had 4 children; Brent, Steven, Leigh and Lynn and lived on Lake Washington near Dassel, MN. Roger died in a car accident in 1977.
Joyce married Roger Leroy Roepke in 1986. They combined their families including daughter Kelli (Roepke) Palmquist. They made their home in Cokato, MN for more than 30 years.
Joyce was an animal lover, an avid gardener and flower “whisperer”. She enjoyed entertaining and making delicious meals for her large family. She and Roger liked to golf and travel internationally. They went on a number of State Farm award trips including Hawaii and Germany. After Roger’s retirement, they enjoyed wintering in Mesquite, NV and visiting Palm Springs all the while perfecting their barbecue expertise.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Roger Roepke; daughter Leigh Sangren; sisters Carol, Lois and Ramona and brothers Gene, Don and Jim.
Survivors include children: Brent (Karna) Rice of Minnetrista, Steve Rice of Benson, Lynn (Scott) Anderson of Montrose, Troy Sangren of Glenwood, Kelli (Tad) Palmquist of Warroad; grandchildren Kristina (John) Lombardi (great grandson Gio), Lauren Rice, Tommy (Kayla) Rice, Jayson Rice, Annelise Rice, Jack Palmquist, Jase Palmquist, Henry Palmquist, Emily Haan and Ashley Haan; sisters Norma (Arlie) Schlect, Ruth (Dennis) Buchholz, Linda Kunerth, Susie (Bruce) Lindgren and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 10, 2025 at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato, Minnesota. Visitation begins one hour prior to service.
In lieu of flowers, please donate a memorial to the Alzheimer’s Association.
https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1