Joyce Lee Thompson

Surrounded by her family, Joyce Lee Thompson passed away peacefully at Rust Medical Center in Rio Rancho, NM on Monday, September 21, 2020 . 

A former resident of Wells, MN; Excelsior MN; Bricelyn, MN; Blue Earth, MN; Lone Tree, CO and Rio Rancho, NM. 

She is survived by her husband Robert James Thompson. They were married November 2, 1957. This November they would have celebrated 63 years. Her children; son Michael Thompson and wife Donna, daughter Kayla Thompson and husband Rob Vigil, grandchildren Craig Thompson and wife Lauren, Matthew Thompson and wife Angel Palmer, Megan Thompson,  Bobby Vigil, and great grandchildren Graham and Lucy Thompson.  Joyce is also survived by her three sisters Clarine Willie, Roberta Sachs, Christina Jacob. Her brother Bud Zehm preceded her in death.

Born July 3, 1938 to Clara (Mikkelson) and Roy Jensen of Elmore Township (Faribault County).  Joyce grew up during the recession, after the end of the Great Depression and during World War II.  She would tell stories of her dad pulling the wagons with mules, and the time she spent at her Grandparents house by the Dell Church in southern Minnesota. Joyce  was always talking about how she loved living by the lake while her kids were growing up in Excelsior Minnesota, and about all the good times she had at the lake with her friends and family. Later in life she loved their place in southern Minnesota where she enjoyed watching the deer and wild turkeys come up near the house and would eat right outside her kitchen window. She loved living in Colorado while the grandkids were growing up, she always said she felt blessed to be able to have her grandkids so close that she could see them practically every day. She loved…. her Grandkids, they were definitely her medicine.

Joyce was very special to all of us, and will be missed greatly. Joyce was a kind and gentle person who loved spending time with family and friends. Everyone felt that Joyce was always so sweet because she loved her sugar, she always had a sweet to offer anyone who visited and was everyone’s sweet buddy! Joyce was most known for her incredible meatballs and everyone always wanted her to make her potato salad because everyone loved it. She loved to have people over to her house, the more the merrier. Joyce especially loved animals. Joyce could be found daily watching the birds and squirrels in her back yard, or going for a walk, she loved the outside and definitely loved dogs. Joyce was tireless and selfless at helping others, she had a special gift, especially with taking care of the elderly. Joyce was a fun person with a great sense of humor and loved to laugh! She enjoyed traveling and going to visit relatives and close friends, she loved a big gathering.

Joyce would always tell her kids that life was an adventure, you will end up in the end, the same place as everyone else, so the most important part of life is to try to be a good and kind person and always enjoy the journey, because that is all that really matters when it is all said and done.  

Joyce will always be loved and missed, but never forgotten.

Due to the COVID 19 Virus and travel restrictions, there will be no services at this time. 

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