Reception: Will follow services at the East Park Villas, 2615 E. Broadway St.
Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Dolores "Joy" Hensel, 85, passed away on April 9, 2010 in her home at 2615 Broadway in Helena.
Dolores was born in Colo, Iowa on June 13, 1924 to Roy and Mildred Dodd. She graduated from Colo High School. Dolores attended Iowa State Teacher's College (now University of Northern Iowa-go Panthers!) with an Elementary Education Degree. She was the first in her family to obtain a college degree. Joy taught in several schools in Iowa before meeting and later marrying Edward Hensel of Alexander, Iowa. Joy and Ed lived in Alexander, Iowa for many years. They worked their entire careers in developing and operating the family businesses including a chicken hatchery and several chicken houses for egg production. Joy was also active in the community including starting the local library in Alexander. Joy was most proud of her family especially her three children Peggy, John and Larry. After retirement in 1979 Joy lived in Arizona and Minnesota through the 1980's and later moved to Helena to be closer to her daughter Peggy Chappuis of Helena. A child of the depression, she grew up on a farm with a heightened appreciation of simple beauty. This appreciation flowered into a love of gardening, sewing, and skills in arts and crafts.
She was an artist that loved painting, pottery, and fiber arts. Education was important to her, and she was adamant that her children had books and music around them. Joy had a creative and curious mind and was continually searching for an understanding of the spiritual world. Joy, as she was known later in her life, was an independent woman with the gift of gab. She had many friends whom she referred to as her Guardian Angels in Helena that helped her maintain that independence and be able to live in her own apartment through her struggles with diabetes and blindness.
Joy loved her family deeply and is survived by her children Peggy (John) Chappuis of Helena, Montana, John (Colleen) Hensel of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Larry (Lee) Hensel of Laramie, Wyoming. She is also survived by a brother Dick Dodd of Branson, Missouri and a sister Helen (Frank) Evans of Arizona. Joy loved her grandchildren and her great grandchildren dearly. Her grandchildren include Dan (Katie) Chappuis of Valdosta, GA, Mike (Mitzi) Chappuis of Kalispell, MT, Adrea (Keith) Beatty of Cincinnati, OH, and Alex Hensel of St. Louis, Mo. Joy was very proud of her four great- grandchildren Logan, Macee, Chase, and Madison and was looking forward to two more great grandchildren expected in June and November.
Services will be held in the chapel of the Anderson, Stevenson, and Wilke Funeral home (Formerly known as Hagler Anderson) at 650 Logan St. in Helena. Family will begin to receive friends at 1:30 PM with a memorial service scheduled at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 16, 2010. A reception will follow the service at 3:00PM at the East Park Villa Apartments at 2615 Broadway in Helena. Because of her love of books and reading, donations may be made in Joy's name to the Lewis and Clark Library. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com. Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. (Formerly Hagler-Anderson Mortuary.
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