Obituary of Joyce A. Wentworth

Joyce A. Wentworth, age 68, of Yankton, SD died at her home Friday, December 5, 2014. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at the United Church of Christ (Congregational), Yankton, SD with Rev. Molly Carlson officiating. Visitations will begin at 4:00 PM, Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at the United Church of Christ (Congregational), Yankton, with a prayer service at memory sharing at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, is assisting with the service details. Joyce Ann Wentworth was born on March 5, 1946 in Marshall, MN to Vincent and Emmerence Wyffels. She was raised on a farm south of Marshall with her parents, four brothers and six sisters. She was baptized, confirmed, and attended school at Holy Redeemer in Marshall. Shortly after High School Graduation Joyce attended Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Education. While attending Mount Marty College she met the man who would later become her husband. After graduating from Mount Marty College in 1968 Joyce taught in Worthington, MN for two years. She then spent the next two years working for an educational coop establishing Special Education Programs in the Mid-West. In 1972 Joyce was hired by the Yankton School District to write a grant establishing their Special Education program. On June 17 of the same year she married Steven C. Wentworth at Holy Redeemer Church in Marshall, MN. When the grant was complete Joyce stayed in Yankton taking a position that would lead to her 39 year career as the Director of Student Services. She went on to earn her Master's in Special Education Administration and a Specialist Degree in Administrative Law, both from the University of South Dakota. Throughout her career she was presented with many accolades honoring her dedication to the students and staff that she cared so much for. Joyce was very passionate about her job. It was her second home and family and she treated them like it. She also served on countless educational boards and committees at the local, state and national levels. Family and friends were the most important things to Joyce; in June of 2011 she retired from the Yankton School District to spend more time with both. Joyce enjoyed a glass (or two) of wine, lunch (especially a good chicken strip basket), the occasional concert road trip with friends, and her weekly gentle yoga class. She adored spending time with her granddaughters and they loved getting into mischief with their grammy. She was a member of Questers, the Retired Teachers Association and the Stewart School book club. She had also been working on a project that would chronicle the history of the Yankton School District. She and Steve enjoyed Friday night dinners out with friends and spending evenings together. Steve and Joyce belonged to a priceless group of friends known as the pinochle club. They have been and always will be a special part of the Wentworth family. Joyce is survived by her husband, Steve Wentworth, daughters Shelby Wentworth and Lydia (Eric Koller) Wentworth and her grandchildren Elise and Mia Koller. Joyce is also survived by her siblings; Duane (Cheryl) Wyffels, Gary (Elaine) Wyffels, Tom (Becky) Wyffels, Brian Wyffels, Pam (Jim) Lewis, Mary Wyffels, Sande Wyffels, Jan (Rich) Bruder, Renee (Kim Lillehaug) Wyffels, Reggie (Jim) Halbert, and brother and sister in-law Dan (Rita) Wentworth as well as many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents and sister-in-law Diane Wyffels. Joyce appreciated her relationships with the people in her life and wanted them all to know how important they were to her, especially during her recent illness. She wrote a note of thanks, intending to publish it in the Press and Dakotan. That note is included below: A special thank you to all of my family, friends, and the thoughtful people who sent cards, flowers, prayers, and well wishes. Who called and visited and offered support during my months of continued recovery from the surgery and resulting complications after I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I couldn't have made it through without you.