Joyce Lavonne Christensen
December 3, 1929 — July 14, 2020
Joyce LaVonne (Mitten) Christensen was born December 3, 1929, to Clayton and Johanna (Christensen) Mitten in her parents’ home near Kirkman, Iowa. Joyce attended country school, Polk #9 School District of Kirkman, Iowa, completing the 8th grade and then stayed home to care for her ailing mother.
Joyce met the love of her life, Virgil LeRoy Christensen, when the Mitten family first attended Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan, Iowa. After dating they were married on December 27, 1950, at Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan. Her devotion to Virgil was truly special.
Several months after their marriage, Joyce worked at the Harlan phone company as a switchboard operator while Virgil was stationed in Tokyo, Japan during the Korean War. In 1953 when her husband was discharged from the Army, they farmed east of Harlan for several years. Later they moved their growing family to Virgil’s homeplace northeast of Harlan to continue dairy farming. She kept busy on the farm keeping a tidy home, delicious food on the table and helping her husband with field work. Joyce never let dust gather under her feet.
In the fall of 1973, Joyce carried her love for baking to the Harlan Community School District’s kitchen service as their ‘baker’ and retired at the end of the 1994 school year. While raising their family, Joyce was a 4-H leader, summer bible school teacher, and a founding member of the neighborhood LNO Club (Ladies Night Out) and a member of the Merry Homemakers Club. Joyce enjoyed Shelby County Fair week and entering multiple exhibits. Her wins included Best of Show in 2009 for her Danish Coffee Cake and twice winning the Purple Ribbon at the Saturday Morning Apple Pie Contest. Joyce loved quilting and made each grandchild and great grandchildren a baby quilt.
Joyce was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church. Joyce, along with her husband, had a passion for traveling the world, camping, snow skiing in Aspen, attending grandchildren’s sports events and spending precious time with family and dear friends. Joyce was fun-loving, incredibly kind, had a heart of gold, and always carried a smile!
Her health began to fail in the fall of 2019. She moved to Rose Vista Home in Woodbine, Iowa, where her pleasant demeanor made her a favorite of many of the staff. She passed away peacefully at Rose Vista Home on July 14, 2020. It was very difficult for Joyce’s children to not be with her at her passing due to Covid-19 restrictions. Joyce had reached the age of 90 years, 7 months, 11 days.
Joyce was preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents, and her brother, Merlyn Mitten of Kansas City, MO.
Joyce is survived by one brother JaVain Mitten of Hamilton, MO; one sister Marlene Larsen of Santa Rosa, CA; one daughter, Debbie Christensen Larsen of Harlan, IA; two sons, Tim (Joan) Christensen of Bennington, NE, and Kevin (Sue) Christensen of Omaha, NE; six grandchildren, Cole Larsen and Reece Larsen, both of Carroll, IA, Mitch Christensen and Clint (Colleen) Christensen, both of Omaha, NE, Danielle Christensen of Minneapolis, MN and Devin (Li-Dunn) Chen of Starkville, MS; two great grandchildren, Ava and Augie Christensen; numerous nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
Joyce Christensen avidly participated in the ‘Anatomical Gift Program,’ donating her body to the University of Nebraska Medical Center - Creighton University. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Joyce was proud of her Danish heritage; the family requests that memorials be sent to the Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, IA. Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan facilitated these arrangements. A special and heartfelt thanks goes to Rose Vista Home and Generations Hospice Care for their impressive support and compassionate care for Joyce. Her children affectionately called this facility “Heaven on Earth!”
Joyce met the love of her life, Virgil LeRoy Christensen, when the Mitten family first attended Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan, Iowa. After dating they were married on December 27, 1950, at Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan. Her devotion to Virgil was truly special.
Several months after their marriage, Joyce worked at the Harlan phone company as a switchboard operator while Virgil was stationed in Tokyo, Japan during the Korean War. In 1953 when her husband was discharged from the Army, they farmed east of Harlan for several years. Later they moved their growing family to Virgil’s homeplace northeast of Harlan to continue dairy farming. She kept busy on the farm keeping a tidy home, delicious food on the table and helping her husband with field work. Joyce never let dust gather under her feet.
In the fall of 1973, Joyce carried her love for baking to the Harlan Community School District’s kitchen service as their ‘baker’ and retired at the end of the 1994 school year. While raising their family, Joyce was a 4-H leader, summer bible school teacher, and a founding member of the neighborhood LNO Club (Ladies Night Out) and a member of the Merry Homemakers Club. Joyce enjoyed Shelby County Fair week and entering multiple exhibits. Her wins included Best of Show in 2009 for her Danish Coffee Cake and twice winning the Purple Ribbon at the Saturday Morning Apple Pie Contest. Joyce loved quilting and made each grandchild and great grandchildren a baby quilt.
Joyce was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church. Joyce, along with her husband, had a passion for traveling the world, camping, snow skiing in Aspen, attending grandchildren’s sports events and spending precious time with family and dear friends. Joyce was fun-loving, incredibly kind, had a heart of gold, and always carried a smile!
Her health began to fail in the fall of 2019. She moved to Rose Vista Home in Woodbine, Iowa, where her pleasant demeanor made her a favorite of many of the staff. She passed away peacefully at Rose Vista Home on July 14, 2020. It was very difficult for Joyce’s children to not be with her at her passing due to Covid-19 restrictions. Joyce had reached the age of 90 years, 7 months, 11 days.
Joyce was preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents, and her brother, Merlyn Mitten of Kansas City, MO.
Joyce is survived by one brother JaVain Mitten of Hamilton, MO; one sister Marlene Larsen of Santa Rosa, CA; one daughter, Debbie Christensen Larsen of Harlan, IA; two sons, Tim (Joan) Christensen of Bennington, NE, and Kevin (Sue) Christensen of Omaha, NE; six grandchildren, Cole Larsen and Reece Larsen, both of Carroll, IA, Mitch Christensen and Clint (Colleen) Christensen, both of Omaha, NE, Danielle Christensen of Minneapolis, MN and Devin (Li-Dunn) Chen of Starkville, MS; two great grandchildren, Ava and Augie Christensen; numerous nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
Joyce Christensen avidly participated in the ‘Anatomical Gift Program,’ donating her body to the University of Nebraska Medical Center - Creighton University. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Joyce was proud of her Danish heritage; the family requests that memorials be sent to the Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, IA. Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan facilitated these arrangements. A special and heartfelt thanks goes to Rose Vista Home and Generations Hospice Care for their impressive support and compassionate care for Joyce. Her children affectionately called this facility “Heaven on Earth!”
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