Joann Gaffaney

1930 - 2025

Joann Gaffaney

December 6, 1930 - June 16, 2025

Joann Gaffaney, 94, of Rapid City, died under hospice care on June 16, 2025, at Westhills Village Healthcare.

Joann H. Gaffaney was born on December 6, 1930, to F. C. and Mary (Flannery) Gaffaney (both deceased), in West Port, Minn. She joined a sister, Mary Ellen, and brother, Dean (both deceased). She graduated from Little Fall, Minn. high school and ventured to Fargo, N.D. to get her RN nursing degree. She married Dick Myers and had three sons, Paul (deceased), John (deceased), and Michael. Joann worked as an RN in numerous locations: Grand Forks, N.D.; Crookston, MN; Watertown, S.D.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Salt Lake City, Utah, and finally Rapid City, S.D. She married Joe Beardsley in 1978 (deceased 1993). After retiring from nursing, she became a dog sitter and later worked as a connoisseur at Kieffer Family Dental.

Joann had several diverse hobbies which she enjoyed for years: needlepoint and cross stitch (many are blessed to have one of them); playing cards, particularly her canasta group in Sturgis; cooking; reading; X country and snowshoeing; and going on long walks. At age 70 she rode her bike across South Dakota in one week. She was an active member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church serving on the Altar Guild and volunteering for several committees. She has been an active member at Westhills Village where she has resided for almost 11 years.

Joann is survived by her son, Michael; daughters-in-law, Cindy Myers and Lola King; and four granddaughters.

She will be remembered for her warm spirit, spending time with friends and always offering to lend a hand. A Celebration of Life will be held July 2, 2025, 10:30 a.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 717 Quincy St. Burial will take place in Villard, Minn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Westhills Village Foundation, or the Humane Society.

Kirk Funeral Home and Cremation Services