Joyce Brynteson

1929 - 2024

Joyce Brynteson

Joyce was born on July 1, 1929, on a farm seven miles out of Sauk Centre, Minnesota, to Lela May (Gray) and C. Fenton Parker. The family was busy farming and didn't travel to town to register her birth until after the harvest was complete.

At the age of 6, Joyce moved with her family to Oregon. Her family moved frequently, and they lived up and down the Willamette Valley from Portland to South of McMinnville. Joyce went to eight different schools in her 12 years of schooling.

Joyce's family lived in Portland during the war, and Joyce corresponded with her older brother Dick, who had joined the army. Her brother traded her photo to an army buddy, Carrol Brynteson, from Coos Bay, and he began corresponding with Joyce. They stayed in touch through the end of the war.

Joyce graduated from Washington High School in 1947, and married Carrol shortly after graduating. They moved to Reedsport, where Joyce lived for 57 years. Joyce worked in two restaurants in Reedsport for about 25 years. She knew all her regulars by name and their order and would start their food as they walked through the door before they even sat down.

Joyce and Carrol raised three daughters, Judy (Ray) Reagor, Kay Kent, and Marla Gerberg. She had five grandchildren, Hollis Reagor, Leroy Reagor, Kimberly Van Laere, Mia Wiggins, and Richelle Hosek, who gave her 22 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren. She loved spending time with her family, including numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She eagerly planned family reunions every summer.

Joyce moved to Philomath in 2005, where she had many relatives in town. She soon made lifelong friends out of neighbors, bingo buddies, and gym buddies at Fitness Over Fifty. She moved to Samaritan Village in the fall of 2019, she went on many outings and eagerly participated in the activities offered at the Village, making many wonderful, treasured friends along the way.

Joyce loved spending time with family and friends, traveling, reminiscing, crocheting, and playing cards and games. Her favorite game was bingo.

While she was naturally skilled and competitive, she always approached games lightheartedly and valued the time spent with others more than the competition.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard (Dick) Parker and sister Marion Rowley. Her husband, Carrol, passed away in 1989. She also survived the passing of her youngest daughter Marla, and her beloved great-granddaughter, Sidney.

Joyce passed away peacefully on December 30, 2023 at Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis, surrounded by family. She will be missed dearly.

In lieu of flowers, Joyce's family invites you to make a contribution to your favorite charity, local hospice organization, or the Samaritan Village bus fund.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held on July 2, 2024 at the Corvallis Community Center, (2601 NW Tyler) at 4 PM.