AUSTIN -- Joyce Leone Asper, age 93, of Austin, died on Aug. 13, 2007, at Our House Memory Care in Austin. She was born Sept. 18, 1913, at Barrows, Minn., the daughter of George W. and Elsie (Jensen) Wetherbee. She attended school in Barrows and after completing her education, Joyce helped on the family farm. At the age of 19, Joyce moved to Brownsdale to help care for her grandparents. While living in Brownsdale, she worked as a housekeeper in Owatonna, Minn. On Dec. 22, 1934, she was united in marriage to Bernard Myles Asper at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Parsonage. The couple made their home in Austin, where Joyce worked as a seamstress making lingerie and doing monogram work for Wallace's. Joyce also enjoy crocheting, knitting, bowling, reading and traveling. She was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ladies Circle, Sons of Norway and a Past Matron of the Eastern Star. Bernard died on May 23, 1999. After his death, Joyce remained her their home for three and half years before moving to Primrose where she lived from 2002 to 2005. After leaving Primrose, Joyce made her home with her daughter, Marlys Peterson, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., until entering Our House in May of 2007.
Survivors include one daughter, Marlys (Dale) Peterson of Blooming Prairie; two sons, Myles (Audrey) Asper of Kirkland, Wash. and Myrle (Judy) Asper of Austin; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one brother, George (Dorothy) Wetherbee of Brainerd, Minn.; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bernard on May 23, 1999 and two sisters, Marlys and Marion.
Funeral services will held at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with Rev. Ron Barnett officiating. Interment will follow the service in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007, at the Worlein Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.