F. Joyce Grubaugh

Our mother, F. Joyce Grubaugh, left this world on Thursday, April 19, 2018, after declining health. Family members were with her at her passing.

Mom was born on Oct. 31, 1929, to Percy and Lula Bryson in Ollie, Montana. She was named Florence Joyce but an older brother thought Florence was too long a name for such a tiny little girl, so she was called Joyce. Mom graduated high school in Ollie and went to Great Falls for nurse's training. It was there that she met our dad on a blind date. Mom married Dale Grubaugh on Aug. 16, 1951, and they moved to Glendive. Mom stayed home to raise their family of five children. As the kids got older, she went to work outside the home as a cook at DCHS and at Grandview. After Dad died in 1988, Mom moved to Billings and worked as a cook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

Mom's children and grandchildren were the center of her life, and she enjoyed being part of their many activities and interests. Mom did beautiful handwork and delighted in sharing her cross-stitch pictures with family and friends. All of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have needlework gifts, done especially for each of them.

Survivors include her children: Virginia (Gary) Johnston, Susan Dawson, Sandra (Ron) Velin, Gary (Deb) Grubaugh and Karen (Bill) Shpiece; grandchildren Erin (Jay) Ballard, Rob (KaraLee) Johnston, Cory (Dr. Amy Kohout), Tracey (Stephanie) Dawson, Kelly (Richard Leaver) Dawson, Darin (Christine) Velin, Nikki (Brian) Roberts, Dan Grubaugh, Jenny (Dodge) Wallace, Jacob (Shannon McGovern) Shpiece, Emily Shpiece, Nicholas Shpiece and 18 great-grandchildren. Also surviving Mom are sister Leona Rahr, brother Clint Bryson, sister-in-law Alice Gaston and many nieces and nephews.

Mom was preceded in death by husband, Dale Grubaugh; parents, Lula and Percy Bryson; sisters, Myrtle Hartse and Ethel Manthey; brothers, Martin Bryson and Herbert Bryson.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 23, at Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary of Billings is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials can be made to Frontier Hospice in Butte, to Frontier Gateway Museum in Glendive, or to a charity of one's choice.