Joyce Braton

Joyce Braton, age 82, a life-long resident of Barnesville, MN died on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at Diamond Willow in Detroit Lakes, MN after a long battle with breast cancer that metastasized to her bones and dementia. Visitation will be from 2-5 PM, Sunday, September 13, 2015 at Dobmeier Funeral Home with a Prayer Service at 5:00 PM. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Funeral service will be 11:00 AM on Monday, September 14, 2015 at St. James United Church of Christ in Barnesville with Pastor Wendy Ward officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie View Cemetery, rural Barnesville, MN. Joyce Ann Amanda Meyer was born on January 6, 1933 to George and Martha (Lemke) Meyer in Franklin County, Iowa. Joyce and her family moved from Iowa to Minnesota when she was 5 years old. She grew up and attended school in Barnesville, graduating in 1951. Joyce worked at the PMA office in Moorhead from 1951 to 1952 as a secretary. Joyce was married to Samuel Orvie Braton, Jr. on June 6, 1952 at St. James United Church of Christ. In 1955, they made their home in Tansem Township, where they farmed for over 40 years; Joyce was very active in the daily chores of the dairy farm. Joyce was known for her cooking and baking; when she and Sam were farming, she would cook and prepare meals for many workers. Joyce and Sam often gathered with family and friends to visit, snowmobile, and play whist. Joyce and Sam enjoyed being whist partners until she was unable to play. When Joyce was a young girl, her mom taught her to sew and crochet. She also loved to draw. As a young girl, she won many ribbons at the fair for the dresses she made and won a trip to the state fair for bread baking. Joyce was a quiet, gentle person. She loved her children and grandchildren. When her grandchildren were younger, she often took care of them and was always willing to help out with caring for them. She was faithful about going to church and participating in guild and circle. She was also active in homemakers, bowling, and cancer sisters. Joyce was not a person who liked a lot of attention or extravagance. Sam and Joyce traveled with friends and family over the years, Branson was one of their favorites. Joyce cherished just being present with the people she loved, especially children. She was always a source of strength, calmness, patience, and consistency for her husband, Sam, her children, and her grandchildren. Joyce was always a good listener and showed her love through preparing and serving food. She carried on a tradition of her mother, making angel food cake for all of her children's birthdays. She was also strong in her sense of self and handled herself and situations with incredible poise. Our wife, mom, and grandma will be remembered as our angel of grace. Joyce is survived by her husband, Sam, six children: Debra Leverson, Pelican Rapids, MN, Douglas Braton (Debra Thomas), Glyndon, MN, Shirlee (Dana) Holland, Rothsay, MN, Brenda Sherwood, Aurora, CO, Tammy (Doc) Dockter, Detroit Lakes, MN, Jody (Matt) Huntington, Aurora, CO; 14 grandchildren: Nathan (Chanda Christianson) and Kenneth Leverson (Becky); Rikki Braton, Shanna Swenson, Shelby and Colby Braton; DJ (Jessica) and Michael (Danielle) Holland; Austin and Samuel Sherwood; Dustin (Jessica James) Askegaard, Streeter (Kaylee Bliss) and Sheyenne Dockter; and Forrest Huntington; and three step-grandchildren: Andrew (Hillary) and Christopher (Jamie) Sherwood; and Schon (Laura) Huntington; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, LeRoy Meyer, Idaho Falls, ID, sister-in-law, Loretta Meyer, Detroit Lakes, MN, as well as many nieces and nephews. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Leona Abbas, Wilma Fredericks, Idella Holland, and Dona Mae Eid; and two brothers, Melvin Meyer, Gerald Meyer; and one step-granddaughter, Stephanie Dockter. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to St. James United Church of Christ in Barnesville or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research.