Joyce Morton, age 68, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa died Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at her home in Sioux Rapids.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

Joyce Philena Petty, the daughter of Derald and Phyllis (Lauman) Petty, was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, on July 9, 1947. She lived her youth and received her education in Sioux Rapids.

On August 21, 1966, Joyce was united in marriage to William Morton at the Congregational Church in Sioux Rapids and this union was blessed with three children: Chad, Todd and Tami. The first few years of their married life were spent in Storm Lake and Alta, Iowa. In 1975, Joyce and Bill came to make their home in Sioux Rapids where they have resided ever since.

Throughout her lifetime, Joyce had been employed with the telephone company in Spencer as an operator, the Commercial Bank in Storm Lake, the Sioux Rapids Bulletin Press and Sioux Printing in Sioux Rapids, and the Emerson Law Office in Storm Lake. Her last employment was with the Dan Connell Law firm in Storm Lake. She retired six years ago.

Joyce loved life and had many varied interests which included books, making quilts for all of her grandchildren, boating, flower gardening, doing counted cross stitch, and frequenting visiting various casinos. She enjoyed the simple pleasures in life like relaxing outside on their patio when the weather was nice, and also relaxing with a rum and coke in the evening and watching the game show channel. Her family was most important to her and she cherished the time she could spend with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild.

Joyce’s life and memory will always be cherished by her family which include her husband of 49 years, Bill, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; children: Chad (Sara) Morton of Boone, Iowa; Todd (Cheryl) Morton of Greenville, Iowa; and Tami Karri of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; grandchildren: Damian Morton, Riley Morton, Gavin Morton, Diamond James, Dawson Hatch, Karly Hatch, Delaney Ferguson, Aashiyana Karri, Rachel Wagner, Ben Wagner, and Jenna Morton; great granddaughter, Willow Morton; brother, Roger (Vicky) Petty of Menomonie, Wisconsin; sister, Marilyn (Dan) Jones of River Falls, Wisconsin; brother-in-law, Ron Newgard of Whapeton, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other extended family and many lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law; and sister, Farryl.

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