Joyce Peters

Joyce E. Peters (nee, McConnell) was born on February 23, 1930, in Slayton, MN, and died on January 17, 2025, in hospice care at the Tyler Hospital at the age of 94 years, 10 months, and 24 days. She was baptized in Fulda, MN, at the Presbyterian Church, confirmed at the Slayton Methodist Church, and grew up on a family farm near Avoca, MN, in Lime Lake Township. Joyce attended District 113 country school located directly across the road from the McConnell farm through 8th grade and graduated from Slayton High School in 1947. 

Joyce and Warren Peters were married at the Methodist Church in Slayton on May 29, 1949. They lived in Austin, MN, for nine months while Warren worked as a Dairy Herd Improvement Association supervisor. On March 1, 1950, they moved to a 160-acre farm 3 miles south of Tyler and initially operated a diversified farm with pigs, chickens, dairy cattle, grain, and forage crops. Joyce was fully invested in helping with the farm work and especially raising pullets, growing chickens for sale of eggs, and roosters for home consumption. As a mother of four children, she was also completely dedicated to providing loving care for her children, constantly attending to each and every individual need, and always instilling the values of love and compassion. Without question, family was her pride and joy. Joyce was also an excellent home maker and an expert in providing excellent meals. Within her family, and especially for her husband, she was well known for her extensive variety of pies for dessert during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her tradition of always having favorite dishes persisted even with her grandchildren, as they often asked, "Grandma could you make those special pancakes for breakfast or great tasting Swedish meat balls, mashed potatoes and cream peas for dinner. And could we have the banana bread and rice crispy treats recipe?" She was woman of faith and established regular church attendance in the family as well as taking on Sunday School teaching responsibilities. 

1968 was a pivotal year due to Warren having lost his leg in a farm accident. By this time, the farm business had specialized in dairy production. Then, in addition to her domestic work, she became even more vital for keeping the farm business viable and helped with twice daily milking chores. After nearly 38 years of farming, Warren and Joyce retired and moved to the former Jens Nielsen property, a farm acquired in 1977, and her son, Roger, moved to the home farm and managed the dairy and crop operation.

Joyce was well known for her interest in physical fitness. She consistently walked approximately three miles per day on the country roads in the neighborhood. She also regularly participated in Pilates classes and water walking at the community swimming pool during summer. While pets were not typically brought into the house, she had her favorites that qualified for this privilege, especially her beloved pet dog "Patches" and kitten "Smokey". She greatly valued her pets as important companions in her life.

Community service was important to Joyce as she was a Leader in the Hope 4-H Club and was also active in the local Merry Homemakers Extension Program, Hope Afternoon Club, and the St. Luke Circle at Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton, MN.

Joyce and Warren were married for 44 years and she was widowed due to Warren unexpectedly passing away in 1997 after hip replacement surgery. In 2017, Joyce moved from her farm home to Danebod Assisted Living in Tyler, and in 2020 she moved to the assisted living division of Boulder Estates in Marshall, MN, and in 2022 moved to the memory care unit of Boulder Estates.

 She is lovingly remembered by her children, Robert (Cathy) Peters of Laurel, MD; Carol Peters, Oakland, CA; Sylvia (Ian) Johnston, Woodland, CA; and Roger Peters, Tyler, MN; eight grandchildren, Amy Peters, Clarksburg, MD; Stacy (Armin) Tehrani, Olney, MD; Maggie (Kevin) Hashimoto, Ellicott City, MD; John (Keri) Johnston, Woodland, CA; Tim (Stephanie) Johnston, San Diego, CA; Erin (Steven) Pearson, Paynesville, MN; Jeff (Ashley) Peters, Tracy, MN; and Michael Peters, Willmar, MN; thirteen great-grandchildren, Aiden and Emma Allage, Arman and Lida Tehrani, Lilly and James Hashimoto. Ian, Jase, Crosby and Grace Johnston. Nash and Beau Pearson, Rakorra Peters, and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren F. Peters; her parents, Ethel and Robert McConnell, her half siblings, Roy Wahl and Dorothy Schumacher (Wahl); three brothers, Robert, James, and Richard McConnell; four sisters, Violet Conner, Mae Miller, Monta Metz, and Ora Dalleska; and four nephews and two nieces.

Gifts in memory of Joyce may be sent to: Warren F. And Joyce E. Peters Scholarship Fund C/O Southwest Initiative Foundation, 15 3rd Ave. N., Hutchinson, MN 55350. An online page for the fund may be found at: https://bit.ly/4jtrfjC. Scholarships are for RTR senior students.