Obituary of Joyce Alene Townley Belknap

Family and friends mourn the passing of Joyce who moved out of our sight on December 17, 2017. She was a 50-year resident of Birchwood Village and most recently of St. Andrew’s Village in Mahtomedi, MN. She will be remembered for her cheer, good humor, cooperation, acceptance of others, and her service to others. Joyce was born on the family farmstead near Sioux City, Iowa, on March 30, 1928, to Howard and Cezarie Townley. She was one of seven children. During her years at Leeds High School, Joyce was a good student, popular, played violin, worked on the school newspaper and participated on the cheerleading squad. Joyce entered Grinnell College where she majored in Elementary Education. While taking summer coursework at Morningside College in Sioux City, she met Bob Belknap, the love of her life. She returned to Grinnell and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. Joyce and Bob were married soon after on December 21, 1949 at the family farm. Joyce and Bob’s jobs took them to Spencer, Iowa for 3 years where they worked side by side building a house for their growing family: baby Craig was born in 1951, and Diane in 1953. Then it was on to West Covina, California for two years with the addition of baby Philip in 1954. Bob’s securing of a school psychologist job took the family to Merced, California, and yes, another baby: Carolyn in 1956! Joyce decided to become a full-time mother and absent herself from the classroom. In 1958, they moved back to the Midwest to be closer to family. They settled their family in Austin, Minnesota and of course, with moving, added yet another baby: Laura in 1959. White Bear Lake became their home in 1963. They built a home in Birchwood in 1965 and added baby Sarah the same year. Joyce and Bob achieved their longtime desire to have a lake experience by purchasing 25 acres of land in the Chippewa Forest on Lower Trelipe Lake in northern Minnesota and building a cabin. Joyce enjoyed walks in the woods, sightings of birds and wild animals, and the beauty of the natural world. Celebration of Joyce's life will be held Monday, January 15, 2018 Gathering of friends and family at 10:00 Service at 11:00 with a light lunch following Parkview United Church of Christ 3737 Bellaire Ave. White Bear Lake, MN 55110