Joyce Ruth Ekstrom

Joyce Ruth Ekstrom, age 93, passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, NV. She is survived by her daughters Dr. Trudy Mestemacher (John) and Debbie Peterson (Randy), and her grandchildren: Melody Mestemacher, Tiffany Roberts (Steve), Dr. Michelle Kraus (Jeremy Quinton), Noelle Kraus, Mikael Peterson (Erika), Jonathan Peterson and great grandchildren: Grace and Eva Mestemacher, Paige, Paityn, Paxtyn and Faith Roberts, and Ada Peterson.

Joyce was born on June 9, 1928 in Duluth, MN to German & Norwegian parents Frank Denzler and Bernice Thompson. She was very close to her one and only sister Betty Foucault (who passed away 2014). Joyce graduated from Denfeld High School in Duluth where she fell in love with James Ekstrom. Jim joined the Army Air Corps for pilot training during WWII. They were married on June 19, 1948 at a candlelight service at Zion Lutheran in their hometown of Duluth. Joyce played organ for years at Zion and helped Jim with his construction business. He built homes in Duluth for many of the Veterans coming home from WWII and she would rent or sell them. In 1950 their daughter Trudy was born and five years later, daughter Debbie.

Jim built the Airliner Motel in Duluth where he and Joyce managed it from 1958-1963. Joyce was a great business manager and things ran smoothly! Soon after their family moved to San Jose, CA and joined Faith Lutheran Church. After their girls graduated from high school, Joyce worked for 13 years at Chrislow’s department store in Los Gatos selling men and women’s clothes as their head clerk. She was so good at it, the owner sent her on several trips to San Francisco to help be a buyer for their store!

In 1993, Joyce and Jim left California for Albuquerque, NM. In 1995 Joyce and Jim left NM and lived fulltime in their RV traveling the country. In 1997 they moved to Las Vegas, NV where they joined St. Andrew Lutheran Church. They went on many cruises all over the world and traveled to many states in their motorhome for about 20 years. Joyce and Jim were married for 71 years until Jim’s passing in 2020.

Music was a big part of Joyce’s life and she became quite an accomplished pianist. She played many songs by ear. She loved playing for family, nursing homes, and church and continued playing the piano even at Avenir Memory Care in Las Vegas till she passed away.

Joyce was a loving and devoted Christian wife and mother. Her friends and family will always remember her as fun, loving, humble, kind and a giving person who loved God.

Visitation with a reception will be held at Palm Mortuary on Cheyenne on Wednesday, June 23 from 11:00am – 1:00pm.

A Celebration of Joyce’s life is scheduled for Thursday, June 24 at 11:00am at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, NV with Reverend Phillip Shuart officiating. Internment will be held on Friday, June 25 at 9:20 at the Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City. The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. The following website is available to send messages, flowers or photos: www.Palmcheyenne.com

7400 West Cheyenne Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89129 (Palm Mortuary)

8901 Del Webb Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89134 (St. Andrew Lutheran Church)

Memorials may be given to St. Andrew Lutheran Church Endowment Fund.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the Ekstrom family.