Joyce Gertrude (White) Tesdahl

Joyce, 101, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at the Village at Mission, in Prairie Village, KS.

Joyce White was born October 10, 1924, the second child in a family of seven children. Her farm home was located in Kirkland, Illinois – and it was there she attended a one room grade school. Her high school was in the small village of Fairdale, Illinois.

It was during these years she became a “hiker” as it was two miles of gravel road to school and only stormy weather allowed the family car to be used. She graduated from the Swedish American Hospital School of Nursing, Rockford, Illinois in 1945. Her life was enriched by being a Caretaker – long before it became an everyday part of our vocabulary. She served with great satisfaction in her profession for 40 years.

She had post-graduate experience at Massachusetts General Hospital and Simmons College in Boston. While there, she met her future husband, Raymond, at the local YMCA. He was a farm boy from Iowa on a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy. They seemed like a matched pair right from the start – and were married on June 25, 1949. Their family home was established in Waukegan, Illinois, until their retirement in 1988, at which time they moved to Phoenix and found their church home at All Saints Lutheran Church.

The church community was always an important part of their activities. She was active in Sunday School even before their sons arrived – Global Million Annual Assembly was a must. Library volunteerism at three congregations, including All Saints Lutheran Church, was on her priority list.

Joyce and Raymond enjoyed travelling, and their trip to the Holy Land, Corinth, Greece, and Egypt was a highlight of their life.

And both of her sons have “fish stories” to tell as a fishing trip to lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin was an annual event.

When her son, Ronald, retired in 2022, he relocated from Phoenix, AZ to Del Rio, TX. Joyce moved to Prairie Village, KS to live at an assisted living facility near her son, Steven, and two of her grandchildren. During her final three years, she enjoyed seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who lived nearby.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, James White and Eunice Glawe; her husband, Raymond, of 64 years, in 2013; brothers, Harold and Marvin; sisters, Dolores, Joan, and Dorothy.

Joyce is survived by two sons, Ronald (Betsy) of Del Rio, TX and Steven (Lori) of Shawnee, KS; four grandchildren, Corey Cross, Jill (Joe) Kerns, Taylor, and Kaley (Brian) Ide; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Charles, of Lena, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

Joyce celebrated her 100th birthday with family from Illinois, Texas and Kansas last year and, just two days before her passing, turned 101.

She lived a full and rewarding life, blessed us with her presence, and is now with her Lord.

No Memorial service is planned. Memorial contributions in Joyce’s name may be sent to All Saints Lutheran Church, 15649 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85022. A private family inurnment will be held at a future date at the Norway Township Cemetery in Kanawha, IA.