Joy Delores Hermanson was born August 8th, 1927 to Helmer and Irene (Ahre) Hermanson on the Haugenson Farm where she spent the first 9 years of her life before the family moved to Lignite.

Joy graduated from Lignite High School in 1945. She married the love of her life, Gordon McEvers, on December 28, 1945. They made their first home in an apartment on Main Street until they built their house in 1955, where they lived life to its fullest until the fall of 2013. Joy and Gordy raised their five children and welcomed many grandchildren to this home, all who have so many wonderful memories of time spent in the cozy brown/blue house with raspberry bushes in the backyard and surrounded by Lilac bushes. A home that radiated love with the smell of home cooked meals, cookies in the oven, and fresh cut peonies from the garden.

Joy led a fulfilling life, devoting her time to being a wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, and servant of her faith. She loved music and to dance, spending her early days tap dancing with her girlfriends Melba and Clarine. Joy was very active in her church life; teaching Sunday School, leading summer bible school, and helping in the kitchen. She was involved with bible study and enjoyed baking Scandinavian goodies for the annual Church Bazar. Joy enjoyed making many quilts with her church friends and expressing her love of flowers and all things pretty by arranging bouquets for the altar every Sunday. Joy had lifelong friends and loved being near both the McEvers and Hermanson families. Joy loved to shop for clothes and get her hair done, she was a fashionista before it was a word. She never missed a moment with her camera, and we have thousands of pictures to prove it! Joy and Gordy traveled often to their favorite places: California, Arizona, Las Vegas, and Joy’s favorite, Hawaii. They traveled by plane, bus and cruise ship, and enjoyed seeing many states. Joy and Gordy also enjoyed spending as much time as they could with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After moving from their beloved hometown of Lignite in 2013, Joy and Gordy made themselves at home in the Bismarck/Mandan area, eventually making their way to the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center where they resided until being called to heaven. With family nearby, they enjoyed many pizza parties, happy hours, birthday celebrations, and holidays surrounded by loved ones.

Joy will be missed dearly and remembered always by all who loved her. Her loving family includes; son, Greg and wife Karen and their children Kristi (Lee) and son Brennen, Jesse (Fiancé Tracy), Laura (Brandon) and daughters Shelby and Bria; Son, Kent and wife Tonia, former wife Christine and their children Rachel (Lonny) and son Dylan and daughter Julia, Sara and son Asa and father Jeff, and Deric (Kerstie) and daughter Kitana and sons Raiden and Daxton; Curt and wife Judith and daughter Meghan (Cameron) and their daughter Ruby and son Jace; Teresa (Art), and their children Jordan (Fiancé Krissy) son Sebastian and Mason (Meagen) and their daughter’s Josephine and Jemison; Tim and wife Shelly and their children Alex, Talyn (Fiancé Kianna) and Bailee.

Joy is preceded in death by her; husband, Gordon; father Helmer and mother Irene; sister, Cherry Loy Bennett; brothers Helmer “Keith” Hermanson and Rodney Stuart Hermanson.