Joyce Thieme

Joyce Elaine Petersen Thieme passed away peacefully at her home in Othello on Aug. 20 after a brief illness.

Joyce was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on May 19, 1936. She spent her childhood in Twin Falls and attended Memorial Lutheran Parochial School where she met Roger Thieme at the tender age of 12. Following parochial school she attended Twin Falls High School through the 11th grade and completed her high school education at St. John’s Academy in Winfield, Kan. Following high school she studied nursing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.

Joyce and Roger were high school sweethearts and later married in Twin Falls on Sept. 25, 1956, a marriage that would last for over 52 years. The couple was blessed with three children: Daniel, Bruce (who passed away in 1960), and Kelly. In 1966, Joyce and Roger moved the family to Othello for a business opportunity.

In Othello, Joyce was involved in community organizations including serving as a board member, bakery operator, and director at the Old Hotel. She was also a member of a Beta group, the Orthopedic Society, and was a longtime member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church.

The family asked Joyce’s younger brother Martin Petersen to reflect on his sister’s life:

“How do you summarize the life of such a unique person? If her life could be stated simply I would use the words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He told us the greatest commandment was to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Joyce was the rock that we all leaned on. She was always the first to respond to the needs of family and friends. There are no adjectives strong enough to describe her compassionate spirit. Her advice was always clear, calm and given with insight. A bond of trust developed knowing her advice was steeped in the spirit of the best for all.

The love of Joyce’s life was Roger, the pride of her life was her children Daniel and Kelly, and her hope for the future lies in her grandchildren.

Today we mourn her loss. The hole left by her passing can only be filled by the knowledge that she has run the good race of life and now claims her place in Heaven assured through grace freely given by our Lord Jesus Christ. We may now go forward with the spirit of peace, love and genuine caring in our hearts. The imprint of her life on ours leaves us with great hope and joy.

What better way to close the book of her life than to show her spirit of love throughout our lives. In this way her bright light will never dim.

Joyce is survived by her husband Roger Thieme, Othello, son, Daniel (and Carla) Thieme, Mercer Island, Wash., daughter, Kelly (and Craig) Andrews, Battle Ground, Wash., sister Janet (and John L.) Royston, Kent, Wash., brother Martin (and Shirley) Petersen, Post Falls, Idaho, and grandchildren Beth Andrews, Austin, Texas, Phillip Andrews, Battle Ground, Wash., and Sydney and Meredith Thieme, Mercer Island, Wash.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Delmore and Wilma Petersen, and son Bruce Thieme.

A memorial service celebrating Joyce’s life will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Othello, on Saturday, Aug. 30 at noon, followed by a luncheon reception. The family has selected the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation (P.O. Box 1337, Moses Lake, 98837) as the recipient of memorial gifts.