RAPID CITY- Joyce Adeline Fossum, 89, passed away at Clarkson Health Care on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

"Go while you can/you're able" was something she often said.  In essence it's to "live life".  And go (lived life) she did.

Joyce was born July 18, 1934, to pioneer homesteaders Bill (William) and Selma (Walters) Jalbert in New England, ND.  She was born into a large family and was the youngest of 13 children (two of which died at birth).  She grew up on the family farm.  Joyce dearly loved her family and kept in touch with them and their families throughout her lifetime.  She attended a country one-room school through the 8th grade, and both St. Mary's High School and New England Public School and graduated from the latter in 1953.

Joyce loved music and loved to dance, which is how she met her first husband, Darrell Paulson.  They were married in 1953 in Bowman, ND.  Darrell owned the Bowman Bodyshop.  Joyce spent most of her life in Bowman.  She had her own cleaning service, cleaning both residential homes and commercial buildings (including The Bowman Theatre, The First National Bank, and many, many more).  Joyce and Darrell had three children (in addition to a miscarriage of twins). They enjoyed dancing and did some traveling and camping in the area.  Darrell passed in 1967.

Joyce stayed in Bowman and met Albert Fossum who she married in 1969.  They had one child together.  Joyce continued to clean homes and worked at the Sunny Apartments, where she cleaned residents' apartments.  They also had a home south of Rhame, ND, where Albert raised cattle and small grains.  They did some traveling throughout the US.  Albert passed in 1990.

Joyce loved her children and did all she could and knew how to make sure they had opportunities to grow, thrive and blossom in their own unique ways.  From "ranch boys" staying in her home for high school, Joyce was more than just a mother to her own children, she cared/loved many, many more.

A testament to her "go while you're able", Joyce kept active throughout her life.  She loved to travel, visit, dance (a favorite was the Norsk Høstfest in Minot), volunteer, and to work too (she also loved milk chocolate Hershey candy bars).  Joyce worked for a summer in Medora at the Dakota Mercantille.  She moved to Rapid City in 2010 and was a hospitality hostess in the dining room at Mount Rushmore for five years.

Joyce's friends were near and dear to her.  She was loyal to check in with phone calls and to visit.  And…she was always one to start a conversation with a simple, "Where are you from?" or "Did you grow up here?"  Joyce was an active and devoted community member, and an avid volunteer in Bowman.  She was a proud North Dakotan, and often promoted Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  She was a member of The Bowman Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary, Bethany Lutheran Church, and high school music boosters.  When not working, she volunteered at school, church, and music events, visited and helped take care of the elderly, and chaperoned school events and trips.

Active and helping her whole life, Joyce truly did "go while she could/was able."

Joyce is survived by her four children, Liv (Linda) Norderhaug (Michael), Karen Paulson, Vernon Paulson (Craig), and Judy Fossum Mathern (Rick); three grandchildren, Kirsten Norderhaug, Tom Fossum, and John Fossum; and four great-grandchildren, Tommi Fossum, Travynn Fossum, Roman Fossum, and  Charlize Fossum.  She was preceded in death by husbands, Darrell Paulson and Albert Fossum, 12 brothers and sisters, and one grandson, Bjørn Norderhaug.

Memorials will support Bowman Lutheran Church (music), Bowman High School (music), Bowman Community Choir, Bowman Community Band, and Bowman Ambulance.  A life celebration will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.  Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m.  Burial will follow the service at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis at 11:30 a.m.