Middle River – Joyce Elizabeth (Osse) Beito Taylor was born in Cedar Township at home on September 13, 1931 to John Osse and Leora Suzanna (Taylor) Osse. She was the oldest of three children. Joyce attended grade school at both the Brandon School House and the Olson’s School House. Joyce attended high school in Middle River.
Joyce was united in marriage to Elwood “Big Al” Beito on March 24, 1948. They were married at the parsonage of United/Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Gatzke. They started their family and lived on what’s known as the “old place” across from Art Bergs on County Road 48. Daryl, Diane, Danny, and DelRay were born while they lived there. In about 1959, they moved their little house a bit closer to “Beitoville” and to where it remains to this day. In 1964, a fifth child was added to the household, Audrey Denise.
On June 21, 2003, Joyce was united in marriage to Glenn Taylor at Our Saviour’s Thief Lake Church. This union added seven stepchildren whom Joyce loved and adored.
Joyce spent her entire spiritual life serving at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Thief Lake. She taught Sunday school for many years, and served as the Sunday School Superintendent for 10 years and held various offices of the Ladies Aide. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #444 Middle River and a member of the “Red Hat Society.” She was a lifetime member and was very proud of that.
In the late 60s Joyce was briefly employed at Arctic Cat. But, because of her love for family she decided to quit working outside of her home to become a full-time homemaker to raise her kids and was a “Summer Mom” for several of our cousins.
As the years went by and all of the kids had grown up, Joyce had other jobs. She drove potato truck for Alen Sczepanski (Stephen) for many years and which turned into a life-long friendship. She sold Avon and Watkins products, served as the Director of the Middle River Senior Citizens and worked for both Marshall and Roseau counties as a Home Health Aide for 18 years.
Joyce loved to share experiences about her childhood days and of all of the hours spent riding horseback with the Petersons and how they would ride the horses into town for a while and back home. She enjoyed gardening, snowmobiling, motorcycling, sewing quilts and making lefse. She did not enjoy mixing up bread. She always mixed up enough of a batch for 13 loaves at a time.
Without a doubt, Joyce’s absolute favorite PASSION WAS MUSIC, which was showcased as a five-member band called the “Ridgerunners” through the 50s and the “HeeHaw Middle River Style” as “Minnie Pearl.” Her passion for music played out for decades as she continued to instill it within her family well into the fourth generation. Joyce also really enjoyed attending the monthly music jam sessions in Greenbush into her ninety-second year. She loved to get together and play and sing with her musical friends. Fishing at Clementson and deer hunting were next in line, both of which she got to do this past fall. Even though Joyce was as avid about hunting herself, Joyce was a natural hostess to others during deer season and for many music jams at home. It was common to have neighbors and friends over to the house for Saturday night music jam sessions and play for hours. If you didn’t play an instrument, your option was to play cards or dance up and down the hallway to the tune of the “bunny hop.”
Joyce had lived on her own and spent the last 5 years living at The Royal Manor in Middle River, until February 17, 2024, when she fell and was admitted to the Sanford Medical Center Thief River Falls, then to the LifeCare Medical Center in Roseau, and then moved to the LifeCare Greenbush Manor where she passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the age of 92 years, 7 months and 7 days with all of her children and her loving brother Don at her side.
Joyce is survived by two daughters: Diane (Dave) Beito-Wavra of Middle River, Audrey Beito (Ron Johnston) of Middle River; three sons: Daryl (Nina) Beito of Greenbush, Daniel (Jean) Beito of Middle River, and DelRay (Rhonda) Beito of Strathcona; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great- grandchildren; two brothers: Donald (Robbie) Osse of Deer River, and John Osse of Fayetteville, GA; one sister: Arlene Brazier of Apple Valley, CA; in addition to several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband of 55 years Elwood Beito; second husband of 14 years Glenn Taylor, one grandaughter: Denise Beito; son-in-law: Wayne C. Klemetson; three stepbrothers: Bill, Harry and Earl; four stepsisters: Beaulah, Ava, Vina and Charlene; 12 in-laws and their spouses.
“May her memory be blessed.”
A Family and Friends Gathering will take place on Friday, April 26, 2024 at Our Saviour’s Thief Lake Church starting at 5 p.m.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Thief Lake. (Meal to follow.)
Arrangements are with Collins Funeral Home of Middle River.
The interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery in Strathcona.
An online guestbook is available at collinsfunerals.com.