Joyce Annette Westrum

Joyce Annette Westrum, age 87, died peacefully on February 13, 2025 at her home in Beach, ND surrounded by her loving family, 6 months and 7 days after suffering a debilitating stroke. The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Silha Funeral Home in Beach. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the First Lutheran Church in Beach with Pastor Liz Franz officiating. Interment will be at Beach Lutheran Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Joyce Annette Sund was born on August 15, 1937 in Parshall, ND to C. Roy and Ruth (Hansen) Sund. Joyce grew up in Parshall and graduated high school with the class of 1955. She was married to Kenneth H. Westrum on October 30, 1958 at the First Lutheran Church in Parshall. In 1961, a job came open in Beach for Ken, so they and baby girl, Sue made the move to Beach. Joyce first worked as a bookkeeper for Ed Novotny at his TV repair shop and would later go on to be a bookkeeper for NAPA for many years. She also was a bartender at the American Legion Club and the O.K. Corral. She was hired by Golden Valley County Social Services as a Home Health Aide in 1988 and did that job until she retired in 2020.
Joyce enjoyed taking trips in their R.V., doing sudoku puzzles, playing solitaire, spending time with her family, playing games, watching Lawrence Welk, and reading. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church and a Life Member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Joyce is survived by her daughter, Sue Branden; son, Steve and his wife, Kelly all of Beach and son, Jay and his fiance' Jamie of Coquille, OR; grandchildren, Kayla and her husband, Jeremy Skaley, Dylan and his wife, Tabiatha Branden, Colin Westrum and LeighAnn and her husband, Clay Barton, Falon Hubbard, Miranda Westrum, and Abigail and her husband, Christopher Elzner; great-granddaughters, Hayden Joy, McKenli Skaley, Madillyn, Audrenna, and Johannah Branden; great-grandsons; Cayden and Nathan Elzner; her sisters, Joanne (Jim) King, Jeanne Qualley, and Beth Mar as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ken, one sister, four brothers-in-law, and an infant grandson, Kristen Daniel Branden.
Joyce's Funeral Service will be live-streamed on the First Lutheran Facebook page at: Facebook@FirstLutheranBeach. Memorial contributions are suggested to Badlands Bible Camp or a charity of one's choice. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhome.com.