Joyce Hawes

Joyce LaVon Hawes, 88, of Jasper, Minnesota, died in Lebanon, Oregon, on November 5, 2018, after an extended struggle with Alzheimer’s. Joyce was born in Magnolia Township of Rock County, Minnesota, on April 18, 1930, to Earnest and Myrtle Kleine. After graduating valedictorian from Magnolia High School in 1948, she worked at Tri-State Insurance in Luverne. In 1949, Joyce married Glenn Hawes in Pipestone, Minnesota. She raised their children and worked as Glenn’s partner on their Rock County farm for 44 years. During the 1960s, Joyce served as the Jasper Elementary School Secretary. Beginning in 1980, Joyce and Glenn wintered in Alamo, and later, Mission, Texas. They became full-time Mission residents in 2015 when Joyce moved to Waterford Gardens. In 2017, she moved to Bridgecreek in Lebanon, Oregon.

Joyce was an active member of both Jasper United Methodist Church in Jasper, Minnesota, and San Juan United Methodist Church in San Juan, Texas. She served as Sunday School teacher, Ladies Aid President, and on the Staff-Parish Relations Committee. For 22 years, she and Glenn spent each Friday helping the less fortunate through their work at the SJUMC Market. And, for each of the 100 houses Glenn helped build for the poor outside Reynosa, Mexico, Joyce saw that the new residents had needed supplies and curtains at the windows. They were chosen Outstanding Winter Texans at SJUMC in 1997 and 2004.

An expert seamstress, Joyce enjoyed sewing clothing, quilting, making crafts and counted cross-stitch pictures. She created scriptural banners for both of her church sanctuaries and annually baked 100 pies for the Alamo Rec Veh Park bake sale. She loved playing Scrabble and cards.

Joyce is survived by her husband Glenn of Lebanon, Oregon; children, Gary (Tessie) Hawes of Lebanon, Oregon; Cathy (Jerry) Wentworth of Jasper, Georgia; sisters and brothers, Mildred (John) Steece, Luverne, MN; Mary (Floyd) Kraetsch, Luverne, MN; Dallas Kleine, Bullhead City, AZ; Janis Glapa, Menomonie, WI; Thomas (Penny) Kleine, Summerville, SC; sisters-in-law Lois Kleine, Luverne, MN; Shirley (David) Haraldson, Clive, IA; Marvel (Bert) Phillips, Lakeville, MN; Sharon (Steven) Gilb, Mountain Lake, MN; brothers-in-law Marvin (Sharon) Hawes, Luverne, MN; Lloyd (Carol) Hawes, Sergeant Bluff, IA; Arlen (Marla) Hawes, Crooks, SD; and countless nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Myrtle (Lehmann) Kleine; father, Earnest Kleine; siblings Margaret Pickard, Evelyn Nelson, Rodney Kleine, Barbara Dye, Nyla Stearns, William Kleine, Helen Taillefer, Donald Kleine, Louis Kleine, and Patty Krier.

Memorials may be sent to Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/donate) or Boys & Girls Clubs of America (bgca.org). Condolences may be mailed to Cathy Wentworth, Box 11765 Big Canoe, Jasper, GA 30143.