Joyce Christine Reeter

Joyce Christine Reeter, age 93, of Volga, SD, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the United Living Community in Brookings, SD, surrounded by her family. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with a Visitation starting one hour prior at 9:00 am at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, SD. Interment will immediately follow to the Trinity Cemetery in Volga, SD.

Joyce Christine Reeter was born on January 4, 1933, to George Raymond and Emma Rosella (Selland) Whitney at Driscoll, North Dakota. However her birth was recorded incorrectly on the Birth Certificate as January 5, 1933, the day after her birth when her father traveled to the courthouse to record her birth. A mistake she never got corrected but always made sure to tell you about it if asked the date of her birthday.

In 1936, the family moved to Portland, Oregon where her father found work at a lumber camp. Joyce remembered traveling to Oregon with her parents and all six children packed together in one car. On October 23, 1938 at the age of 45 George Whitney passed away at Klamath Falls, Oregon. George’s body was brought back by train to Steele, North Dakota accompanied by his widow, Emma Whitney, and their six children. Emma Whitney worked at the café in Steele to support her family. On July 4, 1948, at the age of 48 after returning home from work she went to get a pail of water from the well near their home. When the children became concerned that she had not returned they found her lying on the ground near the pump the victim of an apparent heart attack.

Joyce worked at the café in Steele and at the age of 14 she met Russell Jaques Reeter who had recently moved to Steele. After graduating from Brookings High School in 1947, Russell had joined his parents, who had moved to Steele earlier to farm with his grandparents.

After Joyce’s mother’s death she lived briefly with an aunt’s family but soon moved to a boarding house where she had a room across the hallway from her grandmother.

Russell did not like the cold North Dakota winters and decided to move back to South Dakota. He then asked Joyce to marry him and come with him. On September 2, 1948 at the age of 15 Joyce married Russell. Shortly thereafter they returned to South Dakota and set up house first in an apartment above one of the stores in Volga, then in a small trailer house, and finally in a small house which they moved to Volga from the country. It was in this house that they lived for over 60 years. Russell died on May 14, 2017 after 68 years of marriage. Most recently, Joyce has been a resident of the United Living Community in Brookings.

In addition to being a full-time homemaker, Joyce served as the bookkeeper for Central Surge Supply, her and Russ’s family business, which they operated for 30 years. She was also an active member and bookkeeper for the Olivet Presbyterian Church in Volga for many years. In Joyce’s younger years she enjoyed making sure everyone was well fed on weekends at the lake cabin on Lake Poinsett. She also made quilts for many of her family members. She enjoyed being on a bowling team; and having coffee with neighbors or with friends at the Gas Stop in Volga.

Joyce was known for her homemade ice cream, jellies, lefse and krumkake. She loved gardening and sharing the fruits of her labor with family and neighbors/friends. Joyce had a deep aspiration for rose bushes. She enjoyed playing card games, especially Rumikub.

Joyce is survived by her children; Charlene (Rodney) Kosters of Pierre, SD, Linda Harte of Lake Campbell, SD and Bob (Mary) Reeter of Volga, SD; grandchildren, Tim (Becky) Kosters of Sturgis, SD, Lucas (Sara) Kosters of Alexandria, MN, Roxy (fiancé Nate Bell) Harte of Sioux Falls, SD, Christine (Bryon) Olson of Sioux Falls, SD, Gregory (Gianna) Reeter of Madison, WI and Kimberly (Dan) Burwitz of Gardner, IA; great-grandchildren, Gracie (Kadden) Dillman, Eric Kosters, Aubrey, Brynn, Camden, and Rogan Kosters, and Lily, Emma, Jeffrey Olson, Lachlan Reeter and Clarance Burwitz; great-great-grandchild, Bellamy Dillman; sisters, Frances Goettertz of Bismarck, ND and Gladys Perry of Hickory, NC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Russell (died May 14, 2017), son-in-law (Jeff Harte) three brothers, one brother-in-law and several sisters-in-law.