Joyce (Afdahl) Lumsden

Joyce (Afdahl) Lumsden, 86, of Chester, formerly of Havre and Lakeside, passed away on April 3, 2014, at her home in Chester.

Memorial Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2014, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Chester with Father Joseph Diekhans presiding. Committal of ashes will take place at a later date at the Highland Cemetery in Havre. The family has suggested that memorials in Joyce's name be made to the Liberty County Senior Center in Chester; St. Mary Catholic Church or to the donor's choice.

Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Condolences and memories can be expressed at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Joyce was born on Sept. 14, 1927, one of three children, to Ervin and Bernadette (Lecuyer) Afdahl in Rudyard, Mont. She attended school in Rudyard through eighth grade, attended the Ursuline Academy in Great Falls for three years and graduated from Havre High School in 1946. She continued her education at Sacred Heart Hospital in Havre receiving her RN degree. She married Dale "Red" Lumsden Dec. 15, 1948, in Havre at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. This marriage was blessed with two daughters, Sandy and Bernie.

Joyce began her nursing career at Sacred Heart Hospital. She spent a couple of years at home then began working at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd as a registered nurse. She became interested in the medical records field furthering her education via correspondence courses. Upon receiving certification she worked in medical records at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd until her retirement.

Joyce was very, very gifted with creativity in a plethora of crafts, sewing, quilting and decorating. She loved gardening, cooking and entertaining. She and Red spent much time at their cabin in the Bear Paw Mountains and square dancing. During their retirement they built their dream home in Lakeside, Mont., and enjoyed 10 wonderful years before Red passed away in 2001. After losing her husband of over 52 years, she clung to her faith in God and the hope she would one day join her husband in heaven. In 2009, Joyce returned to the Hi-Line and settled in Chester where she lived until her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Red; her brother, Kenneth Afdahl; and her infant great-granddaughter, Heaven Ivy Anderson.

Joyce is survived by her daughters, Sandy (Jim) Greytak of North Havre; Bernie (Les) Anderson of Havre; grandchildren, Scott (Jennifer) Anderson and son Warren Keough of Havre, Angela (Andy) Morris and sons Michael and Malachi of Havre, Doug Greytak (Melanie Sloan) of North Havre, Suzie (Kelly) Bergstedt and daughters Sara and Hallie of Savage, Mont., and Michael (JoAnna) Anderson of Havre; her brother, Elmer Afdahl of Chester; and her sister-in-law, Harriette Stieler of Havre; along with numerous nieces and nephews.