Joyce L. Benstead

Joyce L. Benstead, 78 of Sioux City, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at a nursing facility in Onawa, Iowa comforted by family.  Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 1, 2023 at the Evangelical Free Church in Concord, Nebraska with Reverend Todd Thelen officiating.  Burial will follow at the Eastview Cemetery in rural Allen, Nebraska.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 30^th at the Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca, Nebraska with family present at 6:00 p.m. and a Prayer Service beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com

Joyce was born on January 31, 1945 in Spencer, Iowa to Orville and Margaret (Mincer) O’Hara.  The family relocated to Sioux City when Joyce was 16 years old, and she continued her education, graduating with the Class of 1963 from Central High School.  While in high school, she worked at Fish Gals in Sioux City where she became interested in bookkeeping.  She married Wilmer E. Benstead on September 17, 1965 at the First Assembly of God Church in Sioux City.  She and Wilmer moved onto the family farm south of Allen, Nebraska following the marriage.  Joyce worked as the bookkeeper for Farmer’s Coop in Allen, Nebraska until 1997.  She joined the bookkeeping department at Tyson Foods.  Joyce retired in 2008.  After her husband Wilmer died in 2014, she returned to Sioux City where she remained. 

Joyce was very active in activities and church memberships including the Chatter-sew neighborhood group, selling Tupperware, Avon, and even Amway for a while.  She taught Sunday School, sang at church, and loved to sew and bake/decorate cakes.  It was common to hear her say, “don’t slam the door, I have a cake in the oven!”  Joyce found her greatest joy and fulfillment from her faith in God, and spending time with her family.

Joyce is survived by her children Jennifer (Doug) Geigle of Rapid City, South Dakota, Byron Benstead of Ponca, Nebraska, Heather (Alex) Dohrman of Piedmont, South Dakota, Brent (Stephanie) Benstead of Hay Springs, Nebraska, and Heidi (Chad) Luedke of Hickman, Nebraska; grandchildren Taylor Dohrman, Savannah Staab, Amber Hollmann, McKenzie Short, Hadley Geigle, Breanne Schmidt, Emily Turner, Bristen Benstead, Ashtyn Huitzman, Aubrie Howard, Gage Geigle, Ian Geigle, Wade Dohrman, Spencer Dohrman, Seth Dohrman, Dylan Turner, Trevin Scoggan, Teagan Scoggan, Tagert Benstead, Tyler Paulson, Kylee Luedkey, and Zach Killin; 8 great-grandkids; sister Sarah (Dan) Carlson of Mason City, Iowa; brother Paul (Bonnie) O’Hara of Independence, Missouri; and sisters-in-law Beverly Steward and Sara Mae Tennison.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, and one sister.