Joyce Snyder

Joyce Elaine (Johnson) Snyder was born on April 16, 1932, to Harold Alfred Johnson and Erma Wilhelmina (Knutson) Johnson in Milroy, MN. Joyce was baptized into and confirmed her faith in Jesus at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Milroy, and it was there that she was united in marriage to Bruce Snyder on June 27, 1953.

Joyce attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis for one year and later graduated from Mankato State Teachers College. She taught elementary education in Mapleton, Lucan, and Wood Lake, and later was a substitute teacher in Cottonwood. She was also very involved in church as a church secretary, VBS and Release Time teacher, kids’ choir and Kids’ Praise musical director, and Bethel Bible series teacher at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. She loved to play the organ and piano and used her talent at various churches over the years, officially retiring in 2001 after 30 years, but continuing to play piano for senior home services until 2018.

Joyce’s Christian faith was very important to her, and she loved to study her much-underlined Harper study Bible. She was always involved in Bible studies where she formed special bonds with her friends over the years, most notably her last group from Alexandria Covenant Church.

Joyce had an incredible sense of fun! When her kids were young, she planned elaborate themed birthday parties for them. For her adult friends she threw ‘come as you are’ parties where she surprised them in the early morning and drove them back to her house for coffee and homemade goodies. Each friend was able to do one thing - either brush her hair, brush her teeth, or put on lipstick. Back in those days lipstick was usually the winner! No doubt she served her famous cinnamon or orange rolls, chocolate chip cookies, or monster cookies. She was incredibly easy to tease and was always a good sport when her family gave her a hard time after what they affectionately referred to as ‘Joyce moments’ which would cause laughter all around. She loved finding a good deal at garage sales, one year returning from a group trip to Tracy, MN where she bought a fabulous pair of shoes and she excitedly exclaimed, “and they even fit!” Always ready to savor a beautiful day, her Dodge Caravan carried her bike, a lounge chair, and a lawn chair so, if the time was right, she was all set to ride along a trail, laze in the sun at the beach, or sit and watch the ducks and geese floating on one of Alexandria’s stunning lakes. She was featured in a local magazine for her love of fishing which she learned from her dad. She and Bruce learned to play golf in 1975 when they built their dream home across the street from the newly built Cottonwood Golf Course. They also traveled to Florida, Colorado, Texas, California, Arizona, and all states in between. In 2008 her daughter Deb accompanied her on her lifetime dream trip to Oregon and Washington.

Joyce never met a stranger. She made friends while on vacation and when working as hostess at Country Inn & Suites that connected for many years through Christmas cards, phone calls, and visits. Almost everyone who walked through the door at her annual garage sales had a story of meeting her at church, the Post Office, a local store or restaurant, or at a friend’s house. While they shopped, she got updated on their families and prayed for and encouraged people who were struggling.

Joyce passed to her heavenly home on March 3, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bruce, siblings Ardie and Allen, daughter-in-law Teri and grandson Casey. She is survived by her brothers Mert (JoAn) and Kenny (Sandy); children Dan (Marie Schoer), Deb, David (Julie), and Diane; grandchildren Shawn (Abby), Corissa (Andy), Tony, and granddaughter-in-law Becca; and great grandchildren Zachary, Isabelle, Claire, and Audrey.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 5, 2023, at 2pm at First Lutheran Church,1655 South McKay Ave., in Alexandria, MN.  Visitation at church one hour prior to service.  A private interment will be held on May 6, 2023, at the Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery in Cottonwood, MN.