Obituary of Joyce Mildred Simpson

It is with great sorrow that the family of Joyce Simpson announces her passing on September 22, 2008 at the age of 98 years. She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 29, 1910. Joyce came to Canada with her parents William and Nellie Isaacson in the summer of 1919. They settled on a farm close to Spiritwood where she attended the Westwood School. Joyce married William (Bill) Simpson of Leask in 1932. They had two children Bill Jr. and Allen. Joyce and Bill worked on a farm near Leask for a number of years. In 1940 they left Leask and moved to the Mildred area where they farmed. They retired from farming in 1965 and moved to Prince Albert. In 1979 after Bill passed away, Joyce moved to an apartment. It was during this time she took driver education and obtained her first driver's license. She often said I never thought I would be learning to drive at 70 years of age. But here I am! She spent many years driving between Prince Albert and Chitek Lake where she came up to visit family and friends. Joyce was definitely and encourager in so many ways. She never hesitated to show kindness and respect for her family, friends and neighbors. She had remarkable stamina; even in her 80's she had two major surgeries only months apart and she recovered very well from both of them. Her family felt that when she had her two falling accidents, the Lord must have really been with her. On one occasion after she fell, a doctor who had been driving by stopped and arranged for an ambulance. When she was 94, she fell while walking down a hill and rolled to the bottom. Although she was shaken up, an off duty ambulance attendant found her and arranged for an ambulance to take her to the hospital. In each of these two incidents, someone was there to take of her. She too admitted later that God really must have been watching over her. Joyce had a genuine interest in spiritual things. She not only arranged for Sunday school by post for her children back in the 1940's, in her later years, she would read and study the Bible and go to church whenever she possibly could. Joyce enjoyed her daily walks. Even in winter she often said, "I just have to get out and get some fresh air." She often told her family the reason why she was in such good health was because of her daily walks. A few times she managed to walk a return trip from Carment Court to the South Hill Mall in Prince Albert. Joyce did admit that she was tired when she returned. Soon afterwards her family insisted that she take the bus. Joyce will always be remembered for her quiet gentle ways, her willingness to help her family, her smile and her way of telling/showing us that we were loved. Although Joyce may not have realized it, her commitment to the Christian Faith left her family in no doubt that she had a sincere interest in God. Joyce is lovingly remembered by her son Allen (Zelma) Simpson of Spiritwood, SK, her daughter in-law Caroline Simpson of Alliston, ON, her brother William (Lola) Isaacson of McLeese Lake, BC, her sister in-law Mary Isaacson of Ashcroft, BC as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her husband William (Bill) Simpson in 1978, her son William (Bill Jr.) Simpson in 2007, her father William Isaacson in 1965, her mother Lady Nellie Isaacson in 1935, her brothers Il Isaacson, Walter (Irene) Isaacson, Lester (Ann) Isaacson, Raymond (Doris) Isaacson and Claude (Clara) Isaacson; her sisters Hazel (Henry) Monson, Irene (Albert) Wasden and Montana (Herman) Anderson. The funeral service was held on Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 11 a.m. from the Lakeland Community Church in Spiritwood, with Mr. Gerry Zak as the officiant. The eulogy was read by Joyce's niece Doreen Wasyliw. Linda Pilling was the soloist and sang My Savior First of All and led the congregational hymns Amazing Grace and Abide With Me which were accompanied by pianist Jean Berg. Honorary pall bearers were all relatives and friends who shared in Joyce's life and the active pall bearers were Floyd Wasden, Louis Willick, Claude Wasden, Elvin Knutson, Ronald Wasden and Herman French. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Spiritwood Health Complex Foundation. Joyce was laid to rest at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Prince Albert.