Joyce Marie Lawrence

In the cold windy, wintery conditions of January, Donald and Elaine proudly brought home their newest arrival of the family to the Sethre farm 25 miles north of Wolf Point. She was the third sibling, joining brother Gary and sister Karen. She would receive another sister, Carol and brother, Mark to complete their family.

Joyce was baptized and confirmed at 1st Lutheran Church of Wolf Point which was a place of fellowship and friendship for their Scandinavian family.

Her path to education started in the one room Woods School out on the prairie. Her tales of walking to school (uphill both ways) came to an end when the school was closed. The Sethre children transitioned to Northside Elementary where Joyce would start 4th grade.

Following Joyce's graduation from Wolf Point High School in 1965, she attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Upon receiving her Bachelors Degree in Education, Joyce was off to Oregon with her first stop at Prineville, Oregon, as a High School English teacher. Her later stops included Bend and Hermiston, Oregon where she preformed her duties as School Librarian.

After furthering her education at the University of Denver, Joyce became a Legal Librarian for Pepper, Hamilton and Scheetz where she met a bright young lawyer named John Stephen Lawrence. Steve and Joyce married on March 19, 1988. They purchased a lovely home together and resided at Fairfax Station, Virginia until both needed additional assistance in recent years.

Joyce belonged to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church and helped with many coffee hours, bake sales and dinners where she deeply enjoyed the fellowship and friendships she found there. She also belonged to a chapter of the Sons of Norway where she loved delving into her Norse heritage and shopping their craft sales.

Joyce's love for friends and family was boundless. She was that sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, friend that created lasting memories filled with her love, laughter, wit and wisdom. Her gift for connecting with people was so genuine it drew people to her, enriching their lives with her kindness. She leaves behind a legacy of cherished memories and will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She is preceded in death by her father Donald Harold Sethre, her mother Elaine Bernice Sethre, sister Carol Kay Pomeroy, sister-in-law Phyllis Sethre and husband John Stephen Lawrence Jr.

We ask that any memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Joyce or the Multiple Sclerosis Society in memory of Steve. There will be a memorial service announced at a later date.

Cards or letters can be directed to:

The Sethre Family

1985 Lower Valley Road

Kalispell, Mt 59901