Joan Lavonne Stuefen

Joan Lavonne (Busselman) Stuefen, age 84, was born to Fredrick and Vivian (Smith) Busselman on July 16, 1939 at a farm near Ivanhoe, Minnesota, where she grew up. Joan attended country school until the eighth grade and finished grades nine through twelve at Lake Benton, Minnesota where she graduated in 1957. On October 26, 1957, she was united in marriage to Eldridge Stuefen at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota. Following their marriage Joan worked at the grocery store in Lake Benton until they were blessed with their first child Neil. Joan stayed at home to raise Neil and was later blessed with a second son Jay. The family moved several times before settling in their forever home on a farm north of Lake Benton in 1969.

Joan worked various jobs until she started working at the ASCS Office in Ivanhoe, Minnesota, where she worked for 25 years before retiring in 2004. After retirement she took a job part-time at the “American Legion” and later “The Ridge” in Lake Benton. Joan was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lake Benton. On January 20, 2019 Joan was moved to the nursing home diagnosed with Alzheimers. She lived at the Avera Sunrise Manor until she died at the age of 84 years, 11 months and 29 days.

Joan loved her family more than anything. She loved to spoil the grandchildren at Christmas time. She was noted for her potato salad and took orders for graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, and other family events. Her flowers were her pride and joy. Many people admired her gardens as they traveled north on highway 75. She was always there to babysit for the grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had such a kind heart.

Joan is lovingly remembered by two children, Neil Stuefen of Arco, Minnesota, and Jay Stuefen (Janel) of Lake Benton, Minnesota; Four Grandchildren, Cindy Faulds (Evan) of Lenox, South Dakota, Justin Stuefen (Kelsey) of Balaton, Minnesota, Greg Stuefen (Charis) of Lake Benton, Minnesota, Jenna Schrunk (Tim) of Balaton, Minnesota; Nine Great Grandchildren, Camden Faulds, Chase Faulds, Jalyn Faulds, Masey Stuefen, Holden Stuefen, Taetum Stuefen, Aubryn Stuefen, Tucker Schrunk and Teagan Schrunk; sister, Sharon Madden (Patrick) of Mankato, Minnesota; Sister-in-laws, Margaret Busselman of Lake Benton, Minnesota and Aledain Mohor of Muscatine, Iowa; and Brother-in-law, Eugene Stuefen (Sharon) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Joan was preceded in death by her parents Vivian and Frederick Busselman; brother, Don Busselman; daughter-in-law, Wendy Stuefen and infant great grandsons Jerritt, Jace, and Jack Stuefen.