On this day, January 25th, 2026,  Joyce I. Schlangen, 97 (and 51 weeks), wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, went to her heavenly home. Joyce will be forever remembered by her beloved daughters, Dianne (Glen) Heynen, Kathy (Milt) Tinklenberg, Mel (Jack) Smelser, and Laurie (Doug) Traub.  Joyce will live on through the lives of her 5 grandchildren and her 8 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Miller Funeral Home - Westside Chapel, with a private family internment at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.  Visitation will be held with family present at 1:00 pm.

Joyce was born in 1928 in Duluth, MN.  She graduated from Denfield High School in 1945 and the University of Minnesota Duluth with a primary education degree. She taught elementary school in Duluth, MN, Minneapolis, MN, and Watertown, SD. Joyce married Leonard Schlangen, and they had four daughters.  They enjoyed 50 years of marriage before Leonard's death in 2002.

When their daughters began arriving, Joyce gave up her teaching career to be a full-time mother, wife, and volunteer.  Meals at her house were made from scratch and served with love.  Joyce conducted 24-hour home economics classes as she raised her daughters and shared her knowledge of meal preparation, sewing, money management, and housekeeping with them.  She spent many hours sewing special occasion dresses for her children for formal dances, prom, and bridesmaids.

Joyce also volunteered in first-grade classrooms in Christian schools, including St. Mary's School, St. Lambert's School, and Christian Center Elementary.  Her love of children kept her active in this manner for over 45 years. Her love for her Lord Jesus Christ propelled her to be an active participant or leader in numerous Bible Study groups through the years, even into her 80's.  She also enjoyed reading, traveling to Hawaii, time with her family, fishing and lake fun, and riding her three-wheel bicycle on the bike trails.

Joyce enjoyed her last 16 years living at Trail Ridge Senior Living Center, where she was blessed by the Christian atmosphere and the loving personnel.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, and her husband, Leonard.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to the staff members at Trail Ridge, Avera Home Hospice, Dougherty House, and Dianne and Kathy for their loving care.