Joyce Giedt, 87, Bowdle, passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at Avantara Groton, SD.

 

Joyce Lavonne Merkel, daughter of Lola (Thomas) and Ernest Merkel, was born January 4, 1933 at Bowdle. Joyce grew up in Bowdle where her dad owned and operated the Bowdle Meat Market. She attended Bowdle Public School, graduating with the Class of 1951. She was a cheerleader and the Bowdle School Homecoming Queen. Joyce married Lester “Dick” Giedt in Bowdle on March 7, 1954. They made their home on various farms until 1970, when they settled on Dick’s homeplace 2 &1/2 miles south of Bowdle. In addition to helping on the farm, Joyce also helped with the family business, Dick’s Auction. Joyce served as the City Finance Officer of Bowdle for several years, retiring from that in September 1998. In retirement, she worked as a cook at the Cenex C Store (currently Drake’s Place) until 2003. Dick passed away on March 28, 2010.  Joyce remained on the farm until 2014, when she moved to Groton to be closer to family. Her hobbies included square dancing (Dick called square dances for many years), counted cross stitch, crossword puzzles, gardening and canning.

 

Joyce is survived by one son, Randy (Leigh Ann) Giedt of Sun City West, AZ; daughter-in-law, Lori Giedt, of Groton; two sisters—Bonnie (Roland) Buechler of Bella Vista, AR and Marilyn (Dean) Schnaible of Adrian, MN; four grandchildren—Jim (Erin) Giedt, Nick Giedt, Desiree (Jeremy) Werner, and Heath (Katelyn) Giedt; and four great-grandchildren—Preslee, Emersyn, Hazel, and Wrenley.

 

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Dick; one son, Steve; her father Ernest, on January 30, 1968; her mother, Lola, on August 19, 1980; and one brother, Jerae.

 

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, November 13, 2020, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bowdle. Pastor Tim Daub will lead the service and organist will be Ellie Daub. Congregational hymns will be “Nearer, my God to Thee”, “Just as I am, without one Plea”, “Take my Life and let it Be”, and “I know that my Redeemer Lives”.   Interment follows at the Church Cemetery. The funeral will be livestreamed on the Lien Family Funeral Care Facebook page and be available at this website Sunday night.

 

Visitation commences at 1:00 PM Friday at the church.

 

Honorary bearers will be Joyce’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 

Casket bearers will be Ron Brown, Lyle Kiesz, and Alex Kiesz of Bowdle; and Mike Mertz of Aberdeen, SD.

 

Services are in care of Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle.

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