Juanita Joyce Lockwood entered this world September 1, 1931, she was lovingly called ‘Sis’, born to Lyle Edwin and Elizabeth Margaret Garr Lockwood. She joined a sister Jean and later brothers Edwin ‘Sonny’ and David ‘Little Buddy’ joined the family. She grew up a few miles west of Coalwood, riding horseback exploring the hills and prairie of the country. She loved animals and at one time or another, she, Jean and Sonny had a pet coyote, a broken legged pigeon, a hoot owl, as well as the ‘normal’ pets: colts, calves, and bum lambs.
She attended grade school at Coalwood, riding to and from school each day with her siblings. On occasion they received certificates for never being tardy or absent. The horse she rode was named Pedro and she and Sonny rode ‘double’ when he started school; she was known to boot him off the back and make him walk home when there was a disagreement. She graduated from Custer County High School in Miles City in 1949. After high school, she had several jobs ranging from being a ‘soda jerk’ at the drugstore to doing secretarial work for Benson Optical.
On February 3, 1951 E. LeRoy Riley and she were married at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. The next year they moved to Stevensville, MT where they were in partnership with LeRoy’s brother (Bob) and operated an irrigated farm and ran cattle. It was here she became a mother of four, an unpaid hired hand, the ‘chief cook and bottle washer’, a friend to many and a mother like no other. She entertained nieces and nephews through the summers when everyone came to the farm and loved the friendships made with the neighbors and family that endured for many years.
The family moved back to Coalwood in 1965 and purchased the Bill Patton place. She enjoyed living close to her family; parents to the east, brother and family to the north, and sister and family in Miles City. She and sister-in-law, Mary Lynne forged a friendship that endured wrangling nine kids to and from school every day. She treated the nieces, nephews, and Hagedorn kids as if they were her own. She continued living her life making everyone else’s easier. She and LeRoy raised their family, saw their children through grade school, high school, the college years, and marriages. She sewed the clothes, got the grass stains out of the football uniforms, made sure everything was ironed, and of course, baked the bread. She truly was the ‘Little Red Hen’. She worked as a teacher’s aide at Horkan Creek country school for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. She was a good teacher, just never got the certificate.
Then came the grandkids, she didn’t try to be the best grandma in the world, she just was. She was deemed ‘Grandma Goose’ as she had hatched and tamed a pair of Canadian geese and taught them to fly, or at least she took the credit. Life at grandma’s house was always an adventure, she did whatever the kids suggested, hiking the hills, reading books, painting, butchering chickens, hunting, stopping by the edge of the highway just to see what was in a culvert, getting the mail, and cooking everyone’s favorite meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. She enjoyed attending the concerts, track meets, football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball games of 16 grandkids and never missed a senior night celebration. She encouraged them to read, get good grades, and go to college.
LeRoy died in 2005, but Joyce continued to be the ‘right hand man’ on the ranch. She calved the heifers for John and Mike, just calling them ‘if she needed help.’ She made sure the water tanks were full, traded a horse for a 4-wheeler for transportation, enjoyed her yard, flowers, and garden, painted Christmas ornaments and stools, collected snowmen, and loved her family. If she touched your life, you are a lucky person. She was one tough woman.
She moved to the Powder River Manor in November of 2015 and died April 23, 2017. Thank you to the staff at the Manor who cared for her and all the family and friends who tended to her well being the last couple of years.
She is survived by her faithful dog Rudy, siblings Jean Hafla and Sonny Lockwood, sisters-in-law Betty Riley and Mary Donovan, brother-in-law Dave Riley, children, Terri (Ken) Bird, John (Julie) Riley, Mike (Margie) Riley of Volborg, and Patty (Joe) Stevenson of Miles City, grandchildren, Leslie (Tanner) Swann, Kevin (Whitney), Jeff (Kelsey), Logan (Jennifer) Bird, Jerry Lei, Elizabeth (Philip) Reierson, Kate, James Riley, Alyssa, Amy, Lucas & Lindsey Riley, Jason, Scott (Andrea), David, Mikel Stevenson, 6 greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will begin on Friday, April 28, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus with family receiving friends from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Henry Malley Memorial Library, the Broadus Cancer Fund or the Broadus Sports Boosters and may be sent to Terri Bird, 36 Bird Divide Road, Volborg, MT 59351.
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday April 28, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Holt
Broadus, Montana 59317
Family to Receive Friends
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday April 28, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Holt
Broadus, Montana 59317
Funeral Service
11:00 to a.m.
Saturday April 29, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday April 28, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Holt
Broadus, Montana 59317
Family to Receive Friends
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday April 28, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
101 E. Holt
Broadus, Montana 59317
Funeral Service
11:00 to a.m.
Saturday April 29, 2017
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
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Drew & Marni Gaskill says
Riley family’s — You are all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Claudette Neal says
407 S 14th St
Claudette says
So sorry for your loss. I remember her fondly.
Wayne & Anita Wetherelt says
So sorry to hear of this loss. Our thoughts, memories & prayers are with all of you.
Bonnie Russiff Schott says
Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother – my thoughts and prayers are with you all –
Brad and Carmen Knutson says
Mike and Riley Family, please accept our deepest sympathy on the loss of your mother. Treasure your many memories! You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Bub and Carlene Gaskill says
Condolences to all the Riley family, can just picture LeRoy with his arm around her.
Aletta & Randy Shannon says
Thinking of all the Riley Families with heartfelt sympathy and prayers for special memories to help ease your sorrow. Joyce was a special lady, one of a kind. She’ll be missed.
SALLY A. BORLA says
SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT JOYCE–MY SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY. I DIDN’T KNOW JOYCE UNTIL SHE CAME TO THE MANOR. A VERY SWEET AND NICE LADY. GOD BLESS.
Tom and Judy Collins. says
We were very sorry to hear about Joyce. Our sympathy goes out to all of you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Bill Gorder & Brenda Hopkins says
A beautiful woman inside and out!!!!!! We are so sorry for your loss of such a wonderful person!!!! She will be missed!!!!!! RIP! Grandma Goose as we all so lovingly will remember her!!!!!!
Norman & Vonnie Shannon says
Our sympathy to the Riley family. I would see Joyce at the fairs in Broadus & we would talk “grandkids”.
Laurie Janssen Claypool and family says
We want to send all of Joyce’s families, our heartfelt sympathy. Such a wonderful mother and grandmother that was in attendance for every activity the kids were in. Loved hearing her tell stories and her memorable laughter! She will be missed, but never forgotten.
Cali Baker says
Joyce will remain in my memory as one of my favorite feisty women. She raised a heck of a brood, and it was fun to hear her brag on each and every one of you. May you all take comfort in the strong family ties carefully instilled by she and LeRoy at this time, and in the knowledge that the love of her and the impact is felt by so many.
Sally Ziebarth Selle says
Patty and family,
Sending hugs and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers the days ahead. Sorry to hear about your Mom and Grandma. A Very Special lady!
Lindsey Archer Johnson says
Thinking of all of the family! All I can think of is her awesome laugh and love for life! I see that in all her kids and grandkids too. Thoughts and prayers of comfort.
Hazel Stabler says
Patty Jo and family, I am so sorry about your Mom but I am glad she got to spend some time with Jean. My prayers are with you.
Pam (Moths) Nisley & Dave says
Oh friends, Our prayers go with you all for His peace and comfort at this very hard time. Your sweet Momma and grandma was a special woman beyond words 🙂 She will long be remembered for such a zest for life and an amazing family!!! Hugs and much love!!
Norm & Julie Samuelson says
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. She was a very special lady.
Jack and Clare says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Jack and Clare Doran
Laura Lee Ullrich says
Riley Families,
We are so sorry for the loss of this wonderful woman. She would poo-poo all of this praise and would answer with some sly and clever remark, always shifting the praise on to someone else. She was a tiny package of dynamite with a fuse of humor! She indeed raised a wonderful family plus all of the others she adopted in her heart. She always reminded me of her mom Liz. She will be remembered fondly by everyone who knew her. Thankful I had the opportunity of knowing her. Keeping you all in our prayers.
Dale & Cindy Berg says
Patty Jo and Family,
So sorry for the loss of your mom and grandma. Keeping you all in our prayers. God Bless.
Gaylene and Tim Fortner says
We are sorry to hear about Joyce. Our sympathy and prayers go out to the family.
Sylvia Zimmer says
So fortunate enough to have gotten to know Joyce at the manor and what a wonderful woman she is. Loved her sense of humor and ability to love and share life to its fullest. Sharing your loss but amazing memories! Hugs to you all.
Lynette & Keith Kerbel says
To Joyce’s family – she must have been a wonderful mother and grandmother since all of you are pretty awesome. We are thinking of all of you at this time.
Carley and James Hennessy says
We are sorry to hear of Joyce’s passing! Always loved hearing stories of “Grandma Goose”. Sending our condolences.
Betty and Skin Collins says
Our thoughts go out to all of Joyce’s family. Prayers for all of you.
7
Bunnie Davis says
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to your family.
Vicki Loomis says
I am so sorry for your loss, Mom loved Joyce and her family when they visited so much. Joyce made Moms time at the Manor a happy and peaceful time.
Pat Franklin says
Riley family, so sorry for the loss of Joyce! May she rest in peace.
Niles Nelson says
Dear Patty, Joe and the entire extended Stevenson and Riley families,
We extend our heartfelt condolences to you and yours in the loss of this extraordinary lady. May the huge place she occupied in your lives and all she gave and taught you be a continuous source of comfort in the days and years to come. Prayers and God Bless!
Niles Nelson, President
and the entire executive board
Montana Funeral Directors Association
Rich Minkoff says
She was a great lady…sorry she is gone.
Cheryl harris says
Terri, so sorry to hear of you loss! I will keep you all in my prayers for comfort!
Steve and Cheryl
Curt & Kate Terrett says
So sorry for your loss
Charlie Barbero and Patti says
Dear Patty and family, we are thinking of you all during this difficult time. You have our sympathy.
Dennis and Bonnie Lyda says
Sorry for the loss of your Mother…Thoughts and prayers to the family
Deb Moths Schmeling says
So Sorry to hear about this sweet loving Mom, Grandma, and friend. She was so full of fun. She cherished her family. May God wrap His loving arms around each one of you. Take time to cherish the memories.
Gwen Wickham says
Patti Jo, So sorry to hear about your Mom. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Love and Hugs to all of you.
Dennis and Jane Pluhar says
So sorry to see that your mother, grandmother and great grandmother past away. You are in our thoughts and prayers. It’s tough, we know, but it sounds like she had a great life. You were so blessed to have her. What a great role model.
Eileen and Vern Entzel says
Patty Jo and Family,
So sorry for the loss of your mom and grandmother. You are all in our thoughts and prayers
Peggy and Chuck says
Patty, Terri and your families, you are in our thoughts during this time! Hard to have the ones we love leave us!!3
John and Lana Smith says
To all of Joyce’s family, we are very sorry for your loss. Heaven gained another good one, that’s for sure. Sending up prayers for you all.
June & Pete Minow says
To Joyce’s family, we are so sorry for the loss of your loved one. She was a kind and special lady. Extending our sympathy and prayers for all of you.
Bill and Jacob Janssen says
Teri,John,Pat and Mike. What a wonderful trubute to your mom today. She has left a great legacy behind. Hope the stories will continue to flow. RIP Joyce.
Pete Stabio says
I am sorry for your loss. I so appreciated Joyce’s friendship with Mary Lynne. Mary Lynne always spoke so highly of Joyce and shared many common interests with her. I
Doug Hanson says
We are very sorry to hear about your loss. But we are so happy to have known Joyce and her family !! All of life was an adventure for Joyce, and she made it that way for all those around her. She will be missed, but also remembered with a great deal of fondness. Doug and Kathy Hanson
Jim and Diane (Rody) Cashell says
We are so sad at Joyce’s passing. A connection that was started in the Bitterroot with Kermit and Amy Rody continued for over 50+ years gravitating through all of the children and even to the grand children. We will always remember how welcoming and excited Joyce would get when we showed up to hunt or at some family function with the kids in Bozeman. Spending time with Joyce, LeRoy, Kermit and Amy was always an adventure. Thanks for all of the fantastic memories. Jim and Diane (Rody) Cashell
Roy & Twila Pilcher says
To all the Riley families. We hadn’t heard of your loss. We are so sorry! No one can take the place of a Mother and Grandmother! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and will be with you in the days ahead.
Roy & Twila Pilcher