Joyce C. Smith, age 77, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at the Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton.
Memorial services are 2:00 PM, on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with the Reverend Dean Trapp officiating. Her ashes will be scattered at a later date. Visitation is one hour prior to the service.
Joyce Christine Johnson was born April 5, 1930 near Letcher, South Dakota to Peter and Serena (Thompson) Johnson. She was the youngest of three children. She started grade school at Loomis, SD. After the death of her father, the family moved to a farm north of Yankton where she completed grade school at Pershing District 50. Joyce attended Yankton High School. While a senior, she apprenticed at radio station WNAX and upon graduation was hired by them as a secretary. As the Korean War continued, her fiance, James Smith, was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. She moved to San Antonio, Texas, and was employed as Continuity Director at television station KEYL. Jim and Joyce Smith were married January 24, 1953, at Ft. Sam Houston. After the war was over, Jim was released from active duty. They returned to Yankton and Joyce became a farm wife. Their son, Robert James, was born December 8, 1954.
She was a 25 year plus member of Pershing Home Extension Club, the Communication Officer for the Yankton Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol with the rank of 2nd Lt. and past Secretary of the Yankton Regional Aviation Association. Joyce enjoyed gardening, sewing, needlepoint, hardanger embroidery, baking and her pets, especially her cats. She also enjoyed flying and hot air ballooning with her friends.
Joyce is survived by her husband of 55 years, James Smith of Yankton; son, Robert (Norma) Smith of Billings, Montana; sister, Ardelle Davis of Burke, SD; and sister-in-law, Betty Johnson of Yankton.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Lloyd Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in her name to the A.C.E. Scholarship Fund at Yankton Regional Aircraft Association or a charity of their choice.
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