Joyce Brause

Joyce Brause, 90, of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, June 18, 2023 at LB Broen Home in Fergus Falls.

Joyce LaVonne Sethre was born November 19, 1932 in Fergus Falls, to Leonard and Dorothy (Scheidegger) Sethre. She was baptized at Hedemarken Lutheran Church in Carlisle and confirmed at First English Church in Fairmount. Her family lived on the farm near Carlisle until Joyce was two years old. They moved to the Fairmount farm when Joyce was in second grade. She attended country school across the road and graduated from Campbell in 1950. She went to Teacher’s Training in Fergus Falls, graduating in 1951.

Her first job was teaching school at the country school by her future in-laws where she roomed and met her future husband, Harvey Brause. They married April 5, 1953 and moved to their farm on the Ottertail River. Joyce worked the first summer in Fergus Falls before they started their family.

Joyce gave piano lessons to the neighborhood children and held recitals. She was a 4-H Leader, Sunday School Teacher and School Board member of District 1522. She also was the church pianist.

Her greatest joy was raising her children and giving them many opportunities. She enjoyed growing vegetables and fruit trees and loved living on the farm. She loved camping with her family and in later years with Harvey traveling around the United States from Florida to California to Canada. Sewing and music always kept her busy and also taking care of elderly family members.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Harvey; parents, Leonard and Dorothy Sethre; brother, Russell Sethre; brother and sister-in-law, Rod and Sally Brause, and nephew, Christopher Sethre.

Joyce is survived by her children, Laurie (Paul) Lekang of Underwood, Shary (Jeff) Loeks of Campbell, MN, Bonnie (Fred) Welter of Brooksville, FL, and Brad (Cheri) Brause of Fergus Falls; eight grandchildren, Sarah (Mike) Deyle, Lara Lekang, Jordan (Emily) Loeks, Josiah (Trista) Loeks, Christina (Patrick) Welter, Christopher (Tisha) Welter, Billie Jo (O’Dell) Hinders, Jesi Brause; five great-grandchildren, Josie, Audrey, Amelia, and Bennett Deyle, Otto and Lila Loeks, Iylo, Cy and Auvy Loeks, Tristan, Justin, Payton, Ashton, and Chaston Welter, Emma O’Rourke, Olympia and Owen Hinders; brother, LeRoy (Julie) Sethre; sister-in-law, Kathleen Sethre; numerous nieces and nephews; and stepchildren and step-grandchildren, Jason (Deirdre) Welter: Arianna Welter, Erin Sa and Ian Welter, Jennifer (Jon) Tasso: Katelyn Tasso, Emily Tasso, Landon Tasso and the late Ryan Tasso, Jeremy Welter: Sophia Welter, Julia Stywall: Matthew Stywall, Adam Stywall and Ethan Stywall, and John Paul Welter.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 26, 2023 at Olson Funeral Home Chapel in Fergus Falls, with visitation one-hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Clergy: Chaplain Norm Thompson
Interment: Western Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Fergus Falls, MN

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com