Joyce Headington Erickson, age 95, of Harmony, Minn., formerly of Burr Oak, Iowa, died on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the Gundersen Harmony Care Center, in Harmony, Minn.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at the Burr Oak Methodist Church, 3597 237th Avenue, Burr Oak, Iowa, with Pastor Linda Thompson officiating. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Iowa.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, Iowa, and also after 10 a.m., at the church on Wednesday morning.
The family prefers that memorials may be given to the Burr Oak United Methodist Church, 3597 237th Avenue, Decorah, Iowa, 52101, or to the Burr Oak Cemetery, 3874 US Highway #52, Decorah, Iowa 52101.
Joyce Marilyn (Smith) Headington Erickson was born on March 28, 1922, the daughter of Arthur and Genevra (Cox) Smith, in Burr Oak Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. She attended grade school at Burr Oak and high school through the 11th grade. When the high school closed, she finished high school, graduating from Canton High School in 1939. She attended Luther College for one year and then was employed by the Winneshiek County ASCS. She was united in marriage to Wayne Robert Headington on October 12, 1946, at the family home in rural Burr Oak. To this union, two daughters were born: Sheila and Shari. They farmed the Burr Oak farm until her husband died on October 27, 1969. She then sold the farm and moved into Burr Oak. She worked at the Burr Oak Store and for many years at Elaine’s Clothing Store in Decorah. On May 23, 1992, she married Hilman Erickson at the Methodist Church in Lenora, Minn. She and Hilman lived in Harmony until his death on January 17, 2002. After his death, she moved to Heritage Grove (Clara House) in Harmony until entering the Harmony Nursing Home in December 2014. Joyce played organ at the Burr Oak United Methodist Church for 50 years, playing for many weddings and funerals. She also enjoyed gardening, flower gardening, embroidery, playing cards, traveling and collecting bells and cardinals.
Joyce is survived by her two daughters, Sheila (Norman) Craig, Preston, Minn.; and Shari (Michael) Minnehan, Churdan, Iowa. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Andrew (Tara) Craig, Houston, Minn.; Lee (Teresa) Craig, Elk River, Minn.; Ryan (Sheena) Minnehan, Churdan, Iowa; Sean (Natalie) Minnehan, Carroll, Iowa; Patrick (Whitney) Minnehan, Churdan, Iowa; and Makayla (fiancé Austin Sparr) Minnehan, Ames, Iowa; eight great-grandchildren: Trayton and Aaralyn Minnehan, Peyton, Emmett and Khloe Minnehan; Lillian Minnehan, and Ryland and Oren Craig; two sisters-in-law, Vesta Hicks, Sandstone, Minn.; and Audrey Wohlsdorf, Postville, Iowa; along with many Headington nieces and nephews.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Genevra (Cox) Smith; and two husbands, Wayne Headington and Hilman Erickson.
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