Joan Meyer

A Funeral Mass for Joan Meyer, 90, of Gladstone, ND, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dickinson, with Fr. Thomas Wordekemper celebrating. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery in Gladstone.

Visitation will be from 5:00–7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, at Stevenson Funeral Home, with the Holy Rosary and Vigil Service beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Joan Meyer passed away on August 7, 2025, at St. Benedict’s Health in Dickinson. She was born on October 20, 1934, on a farm near Manning, the daughter of Peter and Rose (Hammel) Fischer. She attended country school through the 8th grade and later graduated from St. Leo’s High School in Minot. After graduation, Joan worked for NW Bell Telephone Company in Bismarck.

On December 27, 1956, Joan married Paul Meyer at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Killdeer. Together, they began their married life on a dairy farm, where Joan embraced the work of farming, raising chickens, and caring for her growing family. Paul and Joan were blessed with twelve children, whom they raised in a faith-filled Catholic home. In 1971, they moved to their hobby farm in Gladstone, where they raised cattle, horses, and more chickens—while continuing to cultivate abundant gardens.

Joan had a gift for growing things. Each year, she started her own tomato and pepper plants, always planting more than enough to share with family and friends. She welcomed visitors with a warm smile, a hearty meal, and, more often than not, her famous caramel rolls, fresh bread with spinach dip, or homemade chokecherry syrup. She became known for sending her caramel rolls along with her sons to wrestling tournaments so the entire team could enjoy them. No guest ever left empty-handed—there was always a batch in the freezer ready to send home. Her hands told the story of a life of care and creativity, from pulling strudel dough to stitching her grandmother’s garden quilts with extra love.

As her children grew and left home, Joan enjoyed rummaging for hidden treasures to pass along to loved ones. She tended her flower gardens with the same devotion she gave her vegetables, bringing fresh bouquets to Mass each weekend to place on the altar. And when she wasn’t in the garden or the kitchen, she could often be found playing a friendly game of Skip-Bo or a fierce game of pinochle. A sharp, competitive player, Joan played to win—and never pretended to enjoy losing.

Joan leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and faith. Her family was her greatest joy, and she especially cherished time spent with her grandchildren—who will always think of her when they see a fanny pack full of quarters, a rummage sale treasure that Grandma might not think was quite worth the price tag, a decorative rooster, tea parties, golf cart rides, or a cob of fresh sweet corn at farmers market. She was a proud member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Gladstone, the KCettes, and the Catholic Daughters of America.

Joan is survived by her children: Jacqueline (Florian) Friedt of Dickinson, Dennis (Linda) of Dickinson, Timothy (Kathy) of Richardton, Chad (Tammy) of Dickinson, Margaret (Robert) Subart of Robinson, Patrick (Tina) of Gladstone, Theodore (Kayla) of Dickinson, Linda (Daniel) Wendel of Buffalo, Joel (Joyal) of Bismarck, Shawn (Desiree) of Fallon, NV, and Mathew (Duffy) of Dickinson; 42 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way; brother Bob Fischer of Butte, MT.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Rose Fischer; her husband, Paul; her daughter, Paula Joan; siblings Frances (Albert) Schollmeyer, Joe (Marge) Fischer, Tom (Priscilla) Fischer, Lawrence (Angeline) Fischer, Harold (Nettie) Fischer, Raymond Fischer, Mary (Jeff) Watkins, Dorothy (Don) Magelky, Tillie (Jerry) Medlock, Jim (Jean) Fischer, Ted (Ilene) Fischer, and sister-in-law Lois Fischer.

Joan deeply valued the blessings of a Catholic education and believed in nurturing both faith and community. In her honor, the family kindly requests memorial contributions be made to Trinity Catholic Schools to support their mission and to help create a beautiful memorial garden on campus. This garden will serve as a lasting tribute to Joan’s faith, her love of nature, and her commitment to fostering growth—both in the garden and in the hearts of students.