Joy Walker Fagenstrom

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Joy Walker Fagenstrom, 94, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, in her home surrounded by family.

She was born July 12, 1921 in Basin, Wyoming, to Doc (MB) and Olive (Townsend) Walker. After graduating from Basin High School in 1939. she attended Stanford University and graduated from Montana State College in Bozeman in 1944 in nursing.

Joy met Richard "Dick" Fagenstrom at college in Bozeman, and had an enduring courtship during World War II. A month after he returned from the war, they were married July 27, 1946, in Basin. After Dick finished college in Bozeman, they moved to Great Falls, where Jane was born. In 1948, looking for a little adventure, they moved to California. In 1950, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent nearly two years in a sanitarium, then at home on bed rest. She not only survived, but lived to have four more children while living in Wyoming.

In 1963 the family moved to Great Falls, where she went back to work as a nurse. In 1970 they moved to Eastport, Idaho, where she spent several years raising her four youngest children. Once they left the roost, she returned to nursing. When Dick and Joy retired, they enjoyed traveling between their homes in Arizona and Idaho. In 1999, they moved permanently to Surprise, Arizona, where Dick passed away in 2006. In 2011 she moved to Missoula to be closer to more of her children and enjoyed four years at Grizzly Peak. In February she moved in with her daughter Nancy and husband Ron Marks, where she lived out her remaining months.

Joy had a lifelong passion for caring for others. She enjoyed her career as a nurse, especially in labor and delivery. Her greatest joy was her family, especially the babies. She was proud of all of her offspring and relished family gatherings. Joy said the happiest time in her life was when she was raising her kids. "It all goes by so fast, enjoy it while you can." She modeled faithful living, being a part of her church family wherever she lived. She was a survivor, having battled and won against tuberculosis, two kinds of cancer, and at 86, back surgery. She even graduated from Hospice this spring! Joy was a good listener, a great cook, a snappy dresser and well loved by all who met her.

Joy is survived by her children, Jane (Duane) Congleton of Goodyear, Arizona; Nancy (Ron) Marks of Missoula; Susan (Eric) Doering of Colfax, Washington; Janis (Jim) Tucker, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Joe (Lori) Fagenstrom of Grass Valley, California. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Gwen Brahler, Brian Congleton, Erik, Isaac and Liz Marks, Megan Dorman, Kyle Doering, Kinsey Roberts, James Tucker, Jodi Booth, Austin Tucker, Adam and Emily Fagenstrom; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Joy was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Richard L. Fagenstrom; her parents; and brother, Myron Walker.

Internment has taken place at the Western Montana Veterans Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Missoula with the Pastor Molly Sasser-Goehner presiding. A special thanks to the staff at Home Instead and Partners in Home Care Hospice for their care of Joy during her last months. Memorial donations may be made in her name to Partners in Home Care, 2687 Palmer St., Missoula, MT 59808; or to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 830 South Ave. W., Missoula, MT. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at missoulafuneralhomes.com/obituary.
Read Joy Fagenstrom's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.