Joy Denise Wiedebush, 81, passed away peacefully December 20, 2022, in Mesa, AZ. A memorial service will be held 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park in Mesa, AZ. An additional service will be held in 2023 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen, SD, where she will join her beloved husband, Kent Wiedebush, who died in 2014. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Joy’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at St.Jude.org.
Joy was born September 6, 1941, in Mellette, SD to Louis and Stella (Heemstra) O’Donnell. She enjoyed small town life where she made several lifelong friendships. Growing up on the farm as daddy’s little girl, her father helped instill in her a strong work ethic. On December 27, 1977, Joy married her soulmate, Kent Wiedebush, who fondly thought of her as his Toots. They were happily married for 37 years living on their farm in rural Mansfield, SD. She took great pride in the upkeep of the farm, taking impeccable care to every detail, keeping up with the heritage of farming. It was a lot of hard work, but she loved the farm life. She had so much joy (befitting of her name) cooking and baking for those she loved, especially her fresh baked pies and cookies. Joy was blessed with two sons, Jeffrey and Kent Steven, whom she was very proud of. Her chest would bow up in pride when she talked about Jeff’s 21-year naval career. Her patriotic pride continued throughout her life. She was an avid sports enthusiast cheering for the Minnesota Twins, Northwestern Wildcats, and Kent Steven’s baseball/softball teams. The teammates and players he coached, fondly nicknamed her Momma Joy.
After retiring from farming in 1997, Joy and Kent moved to Aberdeen, SD where she volunteered at Bethlehem Lutheran Church making treats and helped oversee a daycare. They enjoyed traveling to the Bahamas, Mackinac Island, and especially Graceland since Joy was an Elvis Presley fanatic. In 2012, they started wintering in Mesa, AZ. After her husband’s passing in 2014, Joy began hosting weekly backyard bonfires for her Arizona friends. In the spring and summer months, she looked forward to traveling back to South Dakota to live with her son, Kent Steven, visiting family and friends there.
Joy is survived by her sons, Jeffrey (Barbara), and Kent Steven (Nancy); sister, Coral Ann (Orin); grandchildren, Steven (Jacquelyn), Trevor (Alyssa), and Tabatha; four great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Talia and Alenah; and all who called her Grandma Joy or Momma Joy.
A memorial service for Joy will be held Wednesday, December 28, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, 400 South Power Road, Mesa, AZ 85206. Following the memorial service will be a reception from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mariposagardens.com for the Wiedebush family.
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