Joyce A. (Craig) Kraft

Joyce A. Kraft, 96, of Aberdeen, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 5, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen.

Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at the mortuary with a liturgical wake service beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Saturday.

Family and friends may sign Joyce’s online guestbook and also view her service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Joyce Arlene Craig was born January 11, 1923, to Benjamin and Hilda (Simonson) Craig on a farm north of Groton, SD.  Joyce was raised in the Groton area and graduated from Groton High School in 1941. 

After high school Joyce met Louis “Louie” Kraft when the “Aberdeen Boys” came to Groton.  Joyce and Louie were married on October 24, 1942, at St. Mary’s Church in Aberdeen.  They made their home in Aberdeen until Louie was drafted into the United States Navy.  He was stationed out of San Diego to serve in the Pacific Arena during World War ll.  They lived in San Diego until 1945, when they returned to Aberdeen. The couple was married for 65 years before Louie passed away in 2008.

Joyce was a stay-at-home Mom and housewife in the 1950s and 1960s.  She worked at Control Data for a short time and then began babysitting for her beloved Danielle and Nathan Cavanaugh. She was an avid shopper (never missing a Herberger’s sale), Bridge player, TOPS Club member, member of St. Mary’s Church, Band 14 of the Altar Society, The Society of Foresters, and a regular coffee drinker with the North Lloyd Street Ladies!

Grateful for sharing Joyce’s life are her daughter and son-in-law, Patti and Tom Cavanaugh of Akaska, SD; her granddaughter, Lisa Kraft of Aberdeen; grandson, Paul Kraft and wife Rachel of Rapid City SD; daughter-in-law, Chau Kraft of Aberdeen; nieces:  Tawny (Joe) Arthur of South Shore, SD, Paula (Steve) Danekas of Naperville, IL, Kay Cowie of Laramie WY, Margaret (Craig) McMullen of Colorado Springs, CO, and Colleen Cameron of Carlsbad, CA; nephews: Dan Craig of Birmingham, AL, David Kraft of Modesto, CA, Michael Kraft of Aberdeen, Tom Kraft of Phoenix, AZ and Steve Kraft of Aberdeen; sisters-in-law, Mabel Kraft of Modesto, CA and Irene Kraft of Aberdeen; several great-nieces and nephews; and many great-great nieces and nephews.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Louie; her son, Richard; her parents; her brothers, Dana and Jim; and her nieces, Rosemary Kraft and Debbie Craig.

Joyce’s family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen, Avera Hospice Staff and Dr. Arlin Myrmoe for the compassionate and loving care provided to Joyce. 

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