Joyce A. Dahlen, 71, of Minnewaukan, ND, died Monday, November 15, 2010 at the Towner County Medical Center in Cando.  Memorial services will be held Thursday, November 18, 2010, at 2:00 pm at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Minnewaukan, with Pastor Harold Ovre officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Her grandchildren will be the honorary  bearers.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 7pm with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service at the Nelson Funeral Home in Minnewaukan.  Music will be from Jordan Callahan, vocalist with Deanna Hanson, organist.

Joyce Ann Dahlen was born December 19, 1938, the only child of John A. and Elvira (Moe) Stenberg at Oberon, ND.  She was raised in the Oberon and Minnewaukan areas, graduating in 1957 from the Oberon High School.  Joyce attended Minot State College for a time and worked as a waitress in Minnewaukan and at the Mayer Hotel Café in Devils Lake prior to her marriage to Jerome Dahlen on March 28, 1958 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake.  The couple lived in Devils Lake where she worked at the Colonial Hotel Café.  They later lived in Rugby and Petersburg, ND before settling in 1967 on the Dahlen farm near Minnewaukan.  She was then employed at the Farmers State Bank at Minnewaukan for a time and later purchased the Minnewaukan Café from Ira Butters and operated it as J.D.'s Café.  After selling the café, she worked at Noodles by Leonardo in Cando and then in Minnewaukan at Little Flower as a housemother.  Joyce then worked at Mr. & Mrs. J's in Devils Lake for fifteen years, retiring  in 2003.

Joyce was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, in Minnewaukan, its WELCA and served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years.  She was also a member of the Gunnerud-Dietrich American Legion Auxiliary in Minnewaukan, a former member of the Minnewaukan Eastern Star and Minnewaukan Commercial Club.  She enjoyed gardening, her flowers,  embroidering,  the library,  puzzles and traveling.  Above all, she loved her family and was an enthusiastic supporter of all their school activities.

Surviving are her husband:  Jerome of Minnewaukan;  daughters and sons-in-law:  Jean and Mike Callahan of Minnewaukan;  Jackie and Jerry Nicholson of Moorhead, MN;  Jill Renihan of Brooksville, FL,  and Jo Dahlen-Trudy Henrikson of Moorhead, MN;  sons and daughter-in-law:  Jon and Norkio Dahlen of Stafford, VA and Jerry Dahlen, Jr. of Minneapolis, MN;  17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents.





Condolences:

Sorry for your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.     Donnie and Tressa Laber

We are sorry for your loss. We will pray for you.    Allan & Cathy Nord

I was looking thru the obits to find the time for another funeral and was shocked to see Joyce's name. I'm so sorry to see that Joyce passed. My prayers will be with you. Nancy Freije

I just heard about your mom, so sorry.  Will be praying for you all. Joel Cichos

sorry to hear of joyce's death. i knew her when she and i were just very young living south of oberon on farms just a short ways apart.  we walked between to visit some and being older, i always probably bugged her some. i have some very fun and good memories of her and i and our families as they gathered together a lot. my sympathy to jerome and all the familyCarol Tweten

My deepest sympathy.  Joyce and I lived very close to one another in the country near Oberon.  Bill Sullivan

Sorry to hear about the passing of Joyce, she was a wonderful woman. I will always have fond memories of her and the family she raised. Jerome, Jean, Jon, Jackie, Jerry, Jill & Jo and the rest of your familes, I wish you well and offer my sincere thanks for the memories we have shared. Best wishes to all.   Shane Stenberg

I am so sorry that Joyce has passed away.  She will be missed by many.  All of my love and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.  Joanne Johnson

To the family of Joyce Stenberg Dahlen- My name is Richard Hofstrand and I went to the one-room rural grade school with Joyce.  She was 2 years older than I.  When we were in school together, there were only about 10-12 pupils.  On long, cold, winter's evenings, my parents would get together with John and Elvira as well as Paul and Hazel Ehnert - common neighbors - to play cards, Pinocle (sp?), Whist, Canasta and other games. Joyce, Darlene and Verdale Ehnert, Donnie - my younger brother - and I would play in the hay mow of the barn.  I also have many fond memories of Elvira - eating her lefsa, and John - riding on his manure sled pulled by two horses named Toots and Dinah. If you'll send me your e-mail address, I'll try to send you some pictures of your family that you might find interesting.  I am indeed saddened to hear of Joyce's passing.  Best wishes to all of you. Richard Hofstrand