On December 22, 2015 Joyce Ann Pritchard unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack at St.Peter’s Hospital in Helena, MT with her son and daughter close by her side. She was 72 years old.
Joyce was born in Bismark, North Dakota 12.28.1942 and preceded in death by Alfred Orlando Johnsonbaugh and Jennie Helen Pavlicek, and baby Neil Gordon.
Joyce Pritchard is survived by her son, Erik Pritchard and daughter in law Julie Johnson, 3 grandchildren Evan, Nikolas, and Adam, and daughter Kristina Pritchard, ex-husband Dick Pritchard, sisters Nancy Nesheim and Mary Sundermann, and brother Lee Johnsonbaugh.
Joyce graduated from St.Mary’s High School. She went on to further her education at Mary College in Bismark for a year and then transferred to Eastern Mt College where she earned her teaching degree. She taught 4th grade for a year, and decided teaching wasn’t her career path. She worked for the McCullough Corporation for a few years when she was married living in Casper Wyoming, and retired from the Forest Service in Missoula, MT. She lived in Missoula until about 2013 at which time she moved to Helena to help care for her grandchildren as they were being born.
She was one of a kind; you will never meet another person so accepting and loving. She lived her life for others; she was always putting the needs of others in front of her own. She missed her daughter crossing the finish line of a marathon because she was walking all over Missoula to make sure she had coffee, because after a long run her daughter loved coffee. Joyce always made people feel remembered and special; she never missed her siblings’ birthdays even though they lived far away. She would travel great lengths to attend special occasions for family and friends.
Joyce loved to travel and learn about foreign cultures and languages. Joyce’s son cultivated relationships with a family living in France as he traveled abroad; she maintained those connections he made and took her daughter to visit France when she was 16. While living in Missoula, MT she participated in the Alliance Francaise group to explore and share her love of French Culture.
Joyce loved to learn about the world and how to make it a better place. Joyce respected human and environmental rights, and felt it was her duty to do what she could to help protect them. She was active in her community on many levels; she once called her daughter excited because she was going to be part of a civil protest that could result in jail time.
Her faith played an important part of her life; she lived her faith. She was a devout Catholic; she never missed a mass. If she knew she was going to be out of town when service was, she would plan to attend earlier so she wouldn’t miss. Joyce was loyal to the people and priorities like her faith in her life. She showed compassion for people she didn’t know by being part of social justice groups within her church and sponsoring foreign exchange students. She showed genuine concern for people that had life struggles in so many different ways; she opened her house up to people when they needed comfort and a safe place to stay on several occasions. She was a devout mother, wife, and friend to many. She is deeply missed, leaving a legacy of grace and compassion.
A funeral service will be held on January 9th, 2016 at 10am at St.Mary’s Catholic Church 1700 Missoula Ave, Helena, MT 59601 to honor the life of Joyce Pritchard. Donations in her memory can be made to the church.
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