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BORN
1948
DIED
2025
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Joy Goehner Obituary
June 13, 1948 - May 26, 2025
Joy Laila Goehner was born in 1948 in Massachusetts and graduated from high school in Fitchburg. She lived in Boston and New York City and then moved to Honolulu, Hawaii to be near her sister. There she met Larry Goehner while singing in a church choir and not long after they were married.
The two felt a calling to serve adults with developmental disabilities and helped to start nonprofit programs in Arizona and Washington. In 1986, they moved to Columbus Montana to help start Special K Ranch about 40 miles west of Billings.
Joy served as bookkeeper and administrator at the ranch until she retired at age 62. She continued her life of service as a volunteer at polling stations on election day. She also served as a volunteer at Project Hope in Columbus and as a member of St. James Lutheran Church.
In 2023, Joy moved with her husband Larry to Missoula, Mont., to be closer to her son Allen's family and to receive more care at a retirement home as she was dealing with both cancer and Parkinson's disease. After almost two years on hospice, Joy died on Memorial Day Monday, May 26, 2025.
Donations can be made in her memory to Special K Ranch (www.specialkranch.org) or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). For service information, full obituary and condolences, visit www.gardencityfh.com.
Garden City Funeral Home
Memories and Condolences
for Joy Goehner
Sponsored by Garden City Funeral Home - Missoula.
2 Entries
Marilyn Showers
June 20, 2025
From Marilyn Showers: So many memories - from Ewa Beach to Buena Park to Rainbow Acres. You lived an amazing life and I´m sure you were welcomed into God´s presence with the words: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." You will certainly be missed here on earth.
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Marilyn Short
June 12, 2025
My sympathy and condolences to you Larry and family. I have fond memories of Joy at various Columbus events. You 2 werewonderful caring directors at Special K. Loved and missed. Marilyn Strange (Short).
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Garden City Funeral Home - Missoula1705 West Broadway, Missoula, MT 59808
People and places connected with Joy
Billings, MT
Billings Gazette
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