Joan Storley

ROSLYN – Joan Storley, 82 of Britton and formerly of Roslyn, passed away Wednesday April 19, 2017 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday April 22, 2017 at the Roslyn Church; Rev. Terrill Sorensen will officiate. Burial will be in the Roslyn Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 – 7 P.M. at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. There will be a prayer service at 6:30 P.M. Joan Carol Gilbertson was born on Monday November 5, 1934 to George and Ethel (Gullickson) Gilbertson at Webster, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at Roslyn Lutheran Church. The family made their home in Roslyn where Joan grew up with the exception of one year when the family moved to O’Neil, Nebraska. Joan graduated from Roslyn High School as valedictorian in 1952. She received her college education at South Dakota State University and graduated with a degree in Home Economics. While at SDSU, she was crowned Women’s Day Queen. On December 23, 1956, she was united in marriage to Harlan Storley. Joan taught Home Ec. for many years starting at Wilmot and later in Roslyn. She then worked as a postal clerk in Roslyn and Webster until she retired in 2000. Almost immediately after retirement, Harlan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away on October 20, 2001. Joan continued to live on the family farm until flooding forced her to move in August of 2011. Since that time, she made her home in Britton, South Dakota. Although she loved all sports, she was the most enthusiastic supporter of the Roslyn Vikings and later the Britton Braves. She was her children’s and grandchildren’s biggest fan! She seldom missed a broadcast of the Minnesota Twins. Joan kept baseball scores for many years for the Roslyn American Legion Baseball program. She was also the unofficial scorekeeper in the stands at games. She was a member of the Roslyn Lutheran Church, Eastern Star, Roslyn American Legion, Red Hatters, Roslyn Area Quilters, and First Lutheran Quilters. She boasted that she was the oldest member of the Roslyn Study Club. She was an accomplished seamstress and she enjoyed golfing and time spent at their cabin at Pickerel Lake. She also loved reading, traveling, and visiting over a cup of coffee. We will remember her sense of humor and her love of family, life, and community. Joan passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at Rochester, Minnesota at the age of 82 years, 5 months and 14 days. She will be greatly missed by her children: Susan (Myron) Haar of Aberdeen, SD, Shane (Vonda) Storley of Britton, SD, Shelley (Randy) Deutsch of Eden, SD, and Shad (Missy) Storley of Redfield, SD, grandchildren: Stacy Weidenbach, Cory (Nichole) Peterson, Shauna Tunheim, Kyle, Cole, Emma, Luke, and Gage Storley, Amber (Spencer) Huggett, Matthew (Rachel) Deutsch, Ethan (Shandell) Deutsch, Conner and Morgan Storley, and twelve great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Adelyne Costello of San Diego, CA, and a brother-in-law Allen Svare of Lakeville, MN as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is currently in Heaven visiting with her parents, husband, Harlan, sisters-in-law Harriett Svare and Bernice Greeno, and so many friends and family.