Joy Markestad, 95, passed away on December 11, 2023 in Rapid City, SD. She was born November 23, 1928 to Reo and Golda (Hoffman) Gibbs in Woodworth, Stutsman, ND. Joy was the oldest of eight siblings and had an older half-sister Dorothy Gibbs from her father's previous marriage.  After her mother died Joy quit school in the twelfth grade to help take care of the family with her 82-year-old grandmother who lived with them. The family lived in Park Falls, Wisconsin where she met Arlo Markestad of Mellen, Wisconsin, January 5, 1947 and were engaged February 8, 1947. He had returned from fighting in Europe during D-Day and WW2 on Dec 5 1945, his 21st birthday. They married on August 23, 1947 and moved to Mellen, WI.

Together Joy and Arlo raised four children, their own three biological children and Joy's youngest sibling for whom they had legal custody. Joy worked several jobs in retail sales, administration, and accounting in both the private and government sectors. Joy would spend hours reconciling figures until every single penny was accounted for.

Since Arlo was a career soldier who after the WW2 worked for the Wisconsin State Frosty Department until re-enlisting in 1949, Joy joined him at his duty assignments in both Germany, France and across four states. During his assignment to Vietnam Joy and the family lived at Fort Riley, KS.

Joy was a member of the Black Hills Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and is the 8th great-grand daughter of colonial (Plymouth Colony) Governor William Bradford and was eligible to join several lineage organizations including Mayflower Society, Associated Daughters of Early American Witches, Colonial Dames of the 18th Century and many others.

She believed very strongly in the importance of education and generously rewarded her children and grandchildren as they completed their educational degrees. She was very active in her children's lives and activities. Joy pitched in when no other parents or adults would volunteer, she would to keep the activities alive. She continued to do this by partnering with Margie as her business manager/owner for the Imagination Station store in Rapid City from 1999-2006. She served as Treasurer of the Veterans Association of Quartzite in Arizona and was active in many veteran's auxiliaries over the years.

Joy was the type of person who never forgot to send a card for birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, she always knew where her siblings and Arlo's siblings were and kept everyone connected, the real matriarch of the family.

She will be remembered for her enduring love and compassion for others and the unerring support and guidance she gave her family through difficult times both for her and for them.

Joy is survived by her four children: James (Barbara) Markestad of Athens, AL; John Markestad (Judy) of Portage, WI; and Cheryl Lemley of Rapid City, SD; and the sister she raised Margie (Elmo) Rosario of Rapid City, SD. She had 9 grandchildren: Aimee (Kyle) Leithoff, Emily (Nick Terry), Stefanie and Anthony (Nicki) Rosario; Sara Markestad, Kari (Matt) Sims and Jean (Eric) Suarez; Shawn (Nicole) Lemley and Michael (Mel) Lemley; and 14 Great-grandchildren; Madeline and Quitin Leithoff, London and Penelope Terry, Vincent and Cyrus Rosario; Jacob Markestad, William Sims; Aiden and Gavin Suarez; Alexia and Lacey Finch, Lilly Larson and Parker Lemley. She is also survived by her six siblings; brothers Clarence Warren Gibbs, Donald Gibbs, Kip Gibbs-Hoffman and Roger (Stoney) Gibbs-Hoffman, sisters Enid (Davari) and Margie (Rosario); and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Arlo Markestad, half-sister Dorothy (Gibbs) Shafer-Becker-Muth, brother Wiley Gordon "Red" Gibbs and great-granddaughter Olivia Sims.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to an educational organization, veterans group or National Forest of your choice.