Joyce Larsen

Joyce Larsen, 87, of Winterset, died Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at the Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center. A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 18, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Winterset, where family will receive friends during this time and funeral services will immediately follow beginning at 6:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Winterset Cemetery with memorials to the St. Paul Lutheran Church and/or the Sorlien Family Scholarship at Luther College, Decorah. Online condolences may be left for the family at ochiltree.com Joyce Frances Sorlien, daughter of Arne and Frances (Holverson) Sorlien, was born January 12, 1931, at Canton, SD. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1949. Her marriage to Jerry Lee Larsen took place on July 17, 1951, at the First Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Five children were born to this union. Jerry attended Dental College at the University of Iowa and Joyce always fondly recalled their time in Iowa City. Following Jerry’s graduation, they moved to Winterset in 1959, so Jerry could open a dental practice above the Harrison Five & Dime. During Joyce’s working years, she was a homemaker raising her children. She enjoyed all the activities associated with being a mother. Joyce also worked as a bank teller in Charleston, SC while Jerry was serving in the military and after her children were raised, she again worked as a bank teller in Winterset. Joyce was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, and was committed to the church’s music ministry for many years. Her love of music was her passion and she utilized her talents as an accompanist for countless students in a myriad of school programs, as well as playing many years at the annual Lion’s Shows. She also volunteered her time with the Apple Tree Players, playing piano and acting. She played in the Winterset Community Band, loved to play bridge and was a member of several different bridge clubs and was always a big supporter of the Winterset Schools. All this said, Joyce was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who cherished time spent with her family. Her home was always open to her children’s friends, many which referred to her as their “second mom.” She is survived by her children, David (Micki) Larsen of Ogden, Paul Larsen of Des Moines, Brian (Deb) Larsen of Urbandale, Timothy (Greta) Larsen of Des Moines, and Suzanne (Tom) Busta of Adel; 13 grandchildren: Melissa (Erik) Hansen, Kelly (Ben) Rider, Bryce (Kristyne) Larsen, Mandy (William) Matlock-Tolson, Evan Larsen, Hannah Larsen, Matt Larsen, Brock Larsen, Sidney Larsen, Gunner Larsen, Morgan Busta, Brynn Busta, Dylan Busta; nine great-grandchildren, Hartley and Beckett Hansen, Emersen and Oliver Rider, Caitlin, Kamryn and Quentin Matlock-Tolson and Violet and Nolan Larsen; sister, Marilyn (Roger) Skatrud of Eau Claire, WI, sisters-in-law, Joanne (Bill) Euler of Las Vegas and Pat Larsen of Mobile, AL; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband who died September 6, 2015, siblings, Bob (Florence) Sorlien, Arne (Audrey) Sorlien, Helen (Bill) Blanchard and a brother-in-law, Larry Larsen. A special thanks to the Spurgeon Manor staff for caring for Joyce like family.