Helen "Joyce" Hansen

Helen Joyce, daughter of Paul and Amy (Walker) Griffith, was born February 25, 1927, at McCook, NE. The family moved to Elk Horn, IA when she was young, and Joyce attended rural schools in the area. She graduated from Elk Horn High School. On August 26, 1945, Joyce was united in marriage with Paul Hansen at Omaha, NE. They made their home in Elk Horn and raised five children together. In addition to being a busy homemaker, Joyce worked at the Elk Horn post office as well as working with her husband as the editor of the Elk Horn/Kimballton Review newspaper until their retirement in the late 1980's. Joyce enjoyed reading and quilting in her spare time. She was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and a faithful participant in bible study groups. Joyce's health suffered from the effects of a stroke, and she spent time at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. She died on Friday, April 4, 2014, at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, IA, at the age of 87 years, 1 month and 10 days. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; sister Mary Cox; brothers-in-law Kirk Hansen and Kenneth Hansen; and Kenneth's first wife Betty. She is survived by her husband of 68 years Paul Hansen of Elk Horn; five children: Susan Hansen, Kimballton; Linda Ballantyne (Jim), Boone; Benjamin Hansen (Michaela), Munich, Germany; Jung Hansen, Medford, OR; and Mark Hansen (Monica), Minneapolis, MN; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; five siblings: Alice Hansen, Mesa, AZ; Carol McNair (Robert DeVoe), Ashland, OR; Jane Wittrup, Albuquerque, NM; John Griffith (Rita), Seattle, WA; Gene Griffith (Laura), Sonoma, CA; brothers-in-law Ronnie Cox, VanNuys, CA, and Joe Hansen (Rose Jean), Des Moines; sister-in-law Jill Hansen, Omaha, NE; numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.