Joyce Haughawout passed away peacefully in her sleep at around 2:30 in the afternoon, Saturday, June 27, 2015, at home in Miles City after a short battle with cancer. Good friends had been with her both in hospital in Billings the previous week and right up to the time of her passing. She had been unwell for only a couple of weeks, had been pain-free and had not suffered. Joyce was 89 years old, a week short of her 90th birthday.
Joyce was born July 5, 1925 in Manvel, North Dakota, the second child of Owen and Mary Wynne. Owen worked road and highway construction for many years. The young family often travelled along, living in the family trailer where Owen’s work took him throughout Montana and the Dakotas. The Wynnes settled in Miles City in 1939, where Joyce lived for the rest of her life.
After the war (WWII), Joyce Wynne met Kenneth “Kenny” Haughawout, who had returned from the Army and worked at Montgomery Wards in Miles City. They were married on November 22nd, 1947 and were never again apart until Kenny’s passing in Miles City in 1996.
After Montgomery Wards, Ken landed a job at the Montana Highway Department, where he worked until he retired, in a number of increasingly responsible positions. Joyce worked for many years at Woolworths Variety Store (the “Dime Store”) in Miles City, where she was well known. During Ken’s time at the Highway Department, Joyce and Kenny were a regular fixture at ‘Montana Highway’ functions, and remained close to their many friends from those years.
In 1949 Joyce gave birth to their daughter, Cherie. The young family spent time in an apartment while Cherie was a baby, then rented a house for a while until they managed to fulfil their dream of building their own home. They moved into what would become their permanent home, living in the basement of the framed house while Kenny finished the inside. Cherie grew up there, and went to school in Miles City until she left for University in Missoula, where she met her future husband, Larry Cromwell.
Kenny and Joyce were part of a circle of neighbors and friends, who enjoyed picnics, card playing, and regular get-togethers. They were active members of the Eagles, where Kenny was also an officer, and the Elks Club. They were often accompanied by Kenny’s sister, Grace Casper, and Mary Wynne, Joyce’s mother. Mary continued to live in Miles City after Owen died, and was carefully looked after by Kenny and Joyce until she passed away.
Kenny and Joyce were always keen travelers, taking camping and fishing trips and holiday travel throughout Montana, to North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin to visit family, and holiday trips to Canada and the Northwest. Even a dream trip to see the Indianapolis 500! After Joyce’s retirement, and later Kenny’s retirement, they travelled extensively. They visited their daughter Cherie and her husband Larry when they lived in Missoula, often en route to visiting with Joyce’s sister Echo and her husband Ed Lynam and nieces and nephews in Spokane. They were members of the Good Sams trailer club, and were often seen loading up their ‘fifth-wheeler’ to trailer off on a camping or fishing or sightseeing trip.
Further afield, their travels included Las Vegas, Portland to visit their niece Jean Pullen and her husband Ken, Brainerd, Minnesota to visit her nephew John Culverson and his wife Myra, salmon fishing on the Oregon coast, and Washington D.C. After Kenny’s death, Joyce continued to travel, including trips to Spokane to visit her sister and brother-in-law and nieces and nephews and other organised bus trips. In 1998 she accompanied her niece Jean Pullen to visit her daughter Cherie and her husband Larry in Melbourne, Australia, a high point of her travels and one she talked about for years.
In later life, Joyce enjoyed her routines, and many people were there in Miles City to help her maintain those routines. Joyce continued to frequent the Sunday Breakfasts at the Eagles, the Friday Night Fish Fries, as well as Saturday Seniors bingo, and regular morning coffee with friends.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, her sister Echo Lynam and her brother-in-law Ed Lynam, and their son, her nephew Robert Lynam, her nephew John Culverson; and by too many of her very close circle of friends.
Joyce is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Cherie and Larry Cromwell, of Melbourne, Australia, by her nieces Mary Lou Chambers and Debbie Lynam of Spokane, Jean Pullen of Portland, Oregon, Myra Culverson of Minneapolis, her nephews Eddie Lynam of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Kenneth Culverson of Dalton, Georgia, Doug and Bruce Larson of Miles City, Jim Larson of Helena and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews and even great-grand nieces and nephews. She is also survived by some very dear lifelong friends.
If you would like, please feel free to make donations or remembrances in Joyce’s name to your favorite charity. In lieu of a memorial, take some time out to appreciate your family and friends and tell them how much you love them.
Special thanks are extended to Joyce’s doctor in Miles City and the doctors and nurses in Billings, to TJ and the staff of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home who have been so helpful to the family in trying to deal with Joyce’s sudden passing from so far away, and to those friends who visited her in hospital in Billings and who called her and called on her in her last few days.
Family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences and final personal testimonies are encouraged and very welcome. Please make these directly to Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City who are in charge of the arrangements by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com or handwritten notes may be left in person at the funeral home.
Linda Hodgson says
Cheri & Larry, I am shocked to learn of Joyce’s passing! She is in a better place now & no more suffering. Please call me when you get here.
Terry & Mary-Glynn Cromwell says
Cher & Larry, We are sad to learn of Joyce’s sudden & rapidly progressing illness and passing. She and Kenny are now at peace together. We’re with you in spirit, and are, of course, here to help as best we can. We await your homecoming with great anticipation! Hugs & Ter
Cori Munsell says
Joyce and Kenny were a very special part of our family. They were like family while I was growing up. She will be greatly missed, especially by my parents. She was a very special lady.
Ed Lynam says
Aunt Joyce and Uncle Kenny played such a huge role in my childhood memories. I’ll not forget their kindness and generosity. I loved spending time with them. Rest in peace Aunt Joyce.
Eddie and Mary Kit