Joy Palmer

The funeral service for Joy Palmer, 89, of Aberdeen, will be 11 a.m., Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Richland Church, rural Mina, with Pastor Jason Dignan officiating. Burial at Richland Township Cemetery. Joy died Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

Visitation will be 3-6 p.m., Friday at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street, Aberdeen.

Joy was born April 26, 1934 to Wilhelm and Emily Holz of rural Faith. She lived on her family's homestead until the age of six when she went to live with the L.L. Knapp family in Ipswich. Along with two other sisters, Eva and Gertrude, they went from living in a sod house to the Parmley Mansion which is now a museum in Ipswich. She graduated as valedictorian of her class from Ipswich in 1952. Joy was always proud of her class and school that won the State B Basketball tournament that year. Joy received an Associates of Arts degree from Miltonville College and taught four years of rural schools in Kansas and South Dakota. In 1958 she married Paul Palmer who farmed across the road from the Richland Township school of rural Mina. They were married for 62 years and had five children.

Joy was a talented piano player and teacher and had piano students for over 60 years. She was always a teacher and also passionate about her faith in Jesus Christ. She taught Bible schools, Sunday Schools, and other kid's programs at Richland Church her entire life until forced to stop from the onset of dementia. Joy enjoyed puzzles, word games, reading, flowers, and attending her kids and grandkids events and all church related functions.

Celebrating her life are her children Doug Palmer of rural Ipswich, David (Carla) Palmer of rural Mina, Steve (Heather) of Broken Arrow Okla., and Karen (Jim) Howell of Owasso, Okla .; Grandchildren, Corey Palmer, Sam Palmer, Roman Palmer, Justin Howell, Jillian Palmer, Addyson Palmer, and Reese Palmer.

She is preceded in death by her husband Paul Palmer; her parents; ten siblings, Malinda Holz, May Williams, Alfred Holz, Leo Holz, Gertrude Heck, Anna Sommerlade, Eva Morrison, Minnie Schlauch, Sophie Rasmussen, and Bill Holz, and an infant son Kevin Palmer.

Memorials can be given to the Richland Church of rural Mina.

Arrangements by Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, Aberdeen. http://www.spitzerfuneral home.com