Joyce Oium

June 29, 1940-July 17, 2025

Rugby

Joyce Esther Oium, 85, passed away at the Heart of America Living Center, Rugby, ND on Thursday, July 17, 2025. She was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Rugby on June 29, 1940, the daughter of Richard and Esther (Moen) Oium. She was baptized on December 26, 1940, at Deep River Lutheran Free Church near Upham, ND, and confirmed on July 31, 1955, at Zion Lutheran Church of Towner, ND.

Joyce attended two years of grade school at Towner Public School and then completed her other six grades at Red Cross School #1 near her home. A 1958 graduate of Towner High School, she attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND. She was an employee at the ND State Forest Service – Towner State Nursery, a clerk at the McHenry County Superintendent of Schools office in Towner, and was a parish secretary for 23 years at Zion Lutheran Church of Towner, ND, retiring in 2006. Her penmanship was meticulous, making her the perfect person to keep records. Joyce had a wonderful memory for details, remembering the people and events in Red Cross Township, as well as family and local history.

In earlier years, she enjoyed baking and sewing her own clothes and for her mother. As a student in Towner, she participated in the school choruses, library staff, and pep club. She showed her acting talent playing the part of Miss Blayne in the junior class play “Miss Ducky”. Joyce enjoyed embroidering towels, giving away many sets. Included in her embroidery projects was a quilt with each state’s designated flower.

Another quilt included the state birds done with paint pens. Joyce gave a try at art, bicycling, and completed lessons on guitar and piano accordion. She liked blue grass, old time, old country, Christmas, and contemporary music. Joyce was a charter member and officer of Luther League at Zion, and was an early member and officer of Kountry Kousins 4-H Club. She was chosen as a delegate from McHenry County to attend a 4-H home improvement tour in Minneapolis, MN. Her favorite subjects in school were English and all business subjects.

Joyce was a member of Grace Circle and ZLCW at Zion. She also served as the Turtle Mountain Cluster secretary for two terms some years ago. She was the longest continuous member of Pioneer Daughters of Towner, joining September 28, 1982, and continuing as a member until the time of her death. For many of those years, Joyce was an officer, serving as secretary, treasurer, and social secretary. Joyce was presented an honorary membership to Pioneer Daughters on January 24, 2023. She also was a member of the Norwegian Gudbrandsdalslaget and Valdres Samband.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard (February 1, 1997) and Esther (April 28, 1998); two brothers, Gerald (October 8, 1996) and Orlin (August 15, 2014).

Services will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Towner. Joyce will be buried at Union Cemetery, Towner, following the service. Niewoehner Funeral Home, Rugby, ND, is in charge of arrangements.

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, July 26, 2025.