Memorial Services have been set for Joyce Bloemendaal of Slayton, who passed away at the age of 86 on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Slayton, MN on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Ethanie Schmidt officiating. The organist is Julie Brossard with special music by Myron Carney. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Slayton, MN. Visitation will be on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton from 4-6 p.m. and one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday. The Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton is handling the arrangements.
Joyce Bloemendaal was born on December 15, 1936, in Slayton, Minnesota to Wilfred and Beryle Stevens Martin. She grew up on the family farm south of Slayton and graduated from Slayton High School. On June 16, 1956, she and Peter Bloemendaal were married in the Chandler Reformed Church while Pete was on leave from the army. Following their marriage Joyce traveled with Pete while he served in multiple locations including Fort Bliss and the Quantico area where their son Steven was born. Joyce worked as a switchboard operator on the different bases. Following Pete’s discharge, they made their home on Pete’s family farm north of Lake Wilson, MN where they farmed until 1969 when they opened Pete’s Corner north of Slayton. Here they ran a gas station and bait shop while still farming and venturing into the marine and snowmobile businesses. In 1979 they branched out and opened Shetek Marine on Lake Shetek near Slayton where they expanded their boat and snowmobile business. Joyce was known far and near for having the best bait around as well as for her caramel rolls. People would stop not only for the necessities but just to see her and Pete. Joyce was still operating Pete’s Corner until November 8, 2023, when she entered Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Joyce passed away there on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the age of 86. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Slayton. She also was a member of the Slayton Driftbreakers Snowmobile Club. Joyce enjoyed spending time with her family, bowling, playing cards, cooking, baking, snowmobile trips and Pontoon rides.
She is survived by husband Pete of Luverne, MN, son Steve and Judy Bloemendaal of Slayton, MN, daughter Donna and Larry Bruns of Pipestone, MN, Randy, Lisa and Amber Martin of Slayton, MN, grandchildren Rebecca Erickson and husband Kevin and James Bruns. Joyce has two great grandchildren, Oliver Erickson, and James’ son Wyatt Kaehler and one surviving sister, Carol Martin of Marshall, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Leslie, sister Marilyn Haberman and her husband Connie and one niece, Mary Kay Haberman.
