Joyce Otterby, 93, passed away peacefully of natural causes at
Martha & Mary Nursing Home in Poulsbo, WA, on Saturday, March 28, 2020.
Joyce was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on July 14, 1926, to Einar, who emigrated from Norway in 1918, and Lavina Haugen. Her only brother, Darrell, joined the family three years later. She became the first female in her extended family to continue past high school, and she was a 1948 graduate from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. She then taught second grade for six years in the Onawa and Sioux City School Districts because her mother was recently widowed.
As a devout Christian, she attended Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City where she met Leslie Otterby who was from Baltic, SD, and was the church’s intern pastor. On August 24, 1952, Joyce and Leslie married, and a year later with their newborn son, they headed west where Leslie became the home
mission congregation pastor at Twin Harbors Lutheran Church in Grayland, WA. They welcomed twin daughters and another son to complete their family. In October of 1959, they moved to Seattle, WA, where Leslie was the minister at Hope Lutheran. Joyce was a faithful minister’s wife who beautifully arranged flowers for the altar each Sunday, who helped Leslie with any visual charts or handouts for his Bible study classes, and who undoubtedly had the most beautiful penmanship in the world, so she prepared any official documents Leslie needed.
In September of 1974, Joyce moved with Leslie and their youngest son to Moorhead, MN, where Leslie was one of four ministers at Trinity Lutheran Church. After three years, they decided to move back to the West Coast, and in February of 1977, Leslie began his service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Bremerton, WA, for 11 years until his retirement in 1988. Thereafter, they moved to Poulsbo, WA, because it reminded them of their trips to Norway. Leslie served as visitation pastor for Poulsbo First Lutheran, and Joyce loved singing in the church’s choir, and her home was decorated with Norwegian folk art.
Joyce is preceded in death by her loving husband, The Rev. Leslie Otterby; her parents; her brother, Darrell; and nephew, Craig. She is survived by four children: Mark, Diane, Debra, and Kurt; grandchildren Kirsten, Erica, Sonja, Hailey, and Max; nieces Kaaren, Joan, Linda, Gloria; nephews Paul, Kent, Wyn; sisters-in-law Marilyn and Margaret; and many dear cousins.
At this time, there is no funeral because of COVID-19, and her burial is under the direction of Miller Woodlawn Funeral Home. Joyce’s final resting place is Poulsbo First Lutheran Cemetery next to Leslie. Joyce’s family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Martha & Mary Nursing Home in Poulsbo.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18