Joyce Schoenbeck

Joyce Schoenbeck, 92, of Watertown, formerly of Bradley, passed away on December 4, 2024.  Memorial services will be held on Monday, December 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown, with Pastor Brad Birtell officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to services, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will take place at Calvary Lutheran Cemetery in Bradley, SD.

Joyce was born to Henry and Margaret Riter on December 4, 1932 on a farm near Willow Lake, SD.  She graduated from Lake Norden High School and married George Tenny Bjerke September 17, 1950.  There were three children from that union, Patricia Tarbox, Susan Olson, and Timmy Bjerke. Her children were the joy of her life. Timmy was killed in an accident. He was hit by a car on the street in Bradley at 11 years old.

On April 14, 1979, she married Merle Amdahl. She completed her LPN training at Lake Area VoTech and worked at Jenkins Methodist Home as an LPN for twenty years.  She and Merle traveled extensively showing Arabian horses. Merle passed away January 1995. She traveled to London, Paris, Wales and Scotland.

On September 5, 1996, she married Don Schoenbeck and they traveled to Canada and to Florida to the Space Center where they got to see the shuttle lift off. Don passed away February 26, 2012.

She belonged to the Mount Olive Church of Watertown.  She always said "This too will pass" as that is what her mother always told her.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her son, Timmy, her husbands, three brothers, Harold (Francis) Riter, Lloyd (Margaret) Riter, and  Delbert Riter, two sisters, Fern (Clyde) Raines and Ruby (Ray) Crowe, a step-son, Doug and a step-grandson, Chad.

Joyce's survivors include her daughters, Patty (Ken) Tarbox and Susan (Don) Olson, all of Bradley; step-children, Jody Tieszen, Sandra Hlavacek, Marvin Amdahl (Lynn), Dave Schoenbeck (Kathy), and Julie Mattson (Mark), grandchildren, Sheila (Lance) Bien, Kristi (Wayne) Schlotte, Julie (Chuck) Zubke, Paul (Sara) Tarbox, Neil (Kimberly) Olson, Ray (Kirstin) Olson, Daniel (Mya) Olson, and Anna (Bobby) Postal, twenty-three great grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and one on the way, twelve step-grandchildren, and nineteen step great-grandchildren, her sister, Janet Jacobson, and a sister-in-law, Sylvia Riter. She is also survived by many precious nieces and nephews and their families.

Furness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.