Joyce Zbinden Knowles

Mom & Granny - passed on June 23, 2021, after an 11 day fight with pneumonia. Born in Cascade, MT on a sheep ranch August 30, 1930, Joyce had a zest for life which you can learn more about on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 2 pm, Central Christian Church, 1025 Central Ave, Great Falls, MT or at www.oconnorfuneralhome.com. Viewing July 12 thru 23 by appointment or at 1 pm July 24th at the church. Joyce was raised on a 220 acre irrigated farm ½ mile west of the Fort Shaw Cemetery. She had many fond memories of herding sheep and using rocks to play trucks & cars with her brother, John Zbinden. Their home burned down and left Joyce an ever lasting fear of fire. John passed in 2002. She owned and operated Knowles Beauty Shop at 3405 6th Ave North, Great Falls for over 60 years. When her last customers could no longer come to her, she went to them. Joyce met an airman, on a blind date, in 1949. She married Vernon “Bud” Knowles from Little Falls, MN on June 25, 1950. In 1951, Randy joined the family, then Jim in 1955. In 1967, Mindi was adopted and Lori in 1968. Randall (Sheryl Sanders) Knowles, Great Falls, MT, James (Debbie Edwards) Knowles, Laurel, MT; Mindi Knowles, Casper, WY, and Lori (Howard) Lorenz, Des Moines, IA. Vernon “Bud” passed in 2012. Joyce enjoyed traveling, gardening, and giving her family free advice (often). She is survived by sister, Helen Zbinden Brandt; grandchildren, Karen (Kurt) Edgell, AZ, Jennifer (Tasha) Iglinski, UT, Keri (Dan) Harley, IA, Britney (Tyler) Fritz, Billings, Josh Knowles, WY, Heather, Jared, Dawn, & Cole. Joyce was blessed to enjoy great-grandchildren, who received unsolicited FREE advice about life. From Karen - Dyllan, Brandon, Karsten, Payton, and Kaeden; from Jennifer– Norah & Scout; from Keri – Damon & Lia; from Britney – Rylan & Walker. Advocacy was her spirit; a more loyal and true friend could not be found. She called a spade a spade regardless of who people thought they were, and mom attempted to right any injustice she or her friends encountered. Mom loved her freedom. Why call a week before your prescriptions run out when you can jump into the car, drive to Snyder Drug and visit with the staff. Impulse works until you need oxycodone for the bad ankle, bad shoulder, 2 back fusions, and everyone’s friend, arthritis. Mom was forced to discover Paratransit and once she accepted, this NEW method of freedom, she was back in business. She also discovered Sysco Foods, the mainstay of every facility in Great Falls. Mom used her refrigerator and microwave, refusing to become dependent upon the Golden Eagles meal plan. Mom’s depression frugality kept her from finding a beautician who she truly enjoyed. Joyce read a lot of Romance books & watched a lot of TV; rodeo, veterinarian, and the Game Wardens – because “I am a farm girl!” Mom quickly discovered why Dad did not like his hearing aids, neither did she; it was easier to turn up the Sonos Speaker Bar. When telephoning mom we all learned to say: “Mom, turn down the TV.” The greatest gift in Mom’s final 11 days was to have her cell phone at the hospital. Everyone, who loved her, called and expressed their love for her and her for them. Mom’s final thought was: “there are still 2 things I want to do, 1. go to the Belt Rodeo and 2. the Augusta Rodeo.” Randy promised to go for her. Turns out that Joyce attended the Augusta Rodeo when she was 16 or the 10th anniversary of the rodeo. Randy and Sheryl are compiling Joyce’s memoirs, over 40 pages of historic anecdotes which are amusing. Memorials may be sent to: Sun River Historical Society (SRVHS) Box 144, Sun River, MT 59483 or Central Christian Church, 1025 Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT 59401. Granny, Joyce, and Mom The Advocate Queen Some call her Joyce Others call her mom For 90 years she beat this ground Our Advocate Queen She cut and permed hair She planted and grew flowers She loved the movies And each day worked 12 hours Don’t you? Her garden was small and mighty Canning aromas filled our home She preserved the old times A symbol of independence that she owned Baking and Canning are her skills But advocating makes her Queen Of these hills Now lend me your ear For this next important scene An advocate for those Who can not stand up & fight Leads to the scene Of a Nursing Home administrators plight Granny was visiting a family friend At a nursing home in town A very best friend So dear to her mom This fateful day they served with cheer Chicken breast, mashed potatoes Steamed cauliflower & white gravy All served on plate of white pearl This culinary delight Was sequestered by Joyce And slid gracefully across the administrator’s table And with a cheerful phrase from the Queen, “Now, You eat this!” Pale looking dishes Were never again seen For Granny had her eye on this Nursing home scene And they knew better than to mess with The Advocacy Queen Granny had a sense of justice And was willing to fight For what is fair, Just, and right She fought for her children She would fight for her friends She would fight because Injustice got under her skin Grass under her feet Did not grow If a minute she had It was off to the Spa, she would go Then a movie, a rodeo A play, a concert, a rally There are no boundaries For this wild lily of Montana’s Sun River Valley A hospital’s volunteer Her kind words & friendly smile Kept patient’s and families at ease Though hospital rules were not her style Granny, the name Her grand daughters gave A term of endearment And easy to say Her feelings she shared Her opinions were free You never needed to wonder What Granny Joyce was thinking Quiet as a mouse Granny Joyce would never be As she hurries across town, or Through the house, yard, and trees Helping every one, she meets An advocate to all Setting an example Which God himself could follow? Even in the end she was bossing everyone about Doctors, nurses, aids, cooks, would receive Granny’s shout A new Special Phrase Mom recently shared with all Randy, you quit micro-managing me, I am a mighty mouse Mom had many loves - one was clothing and to this day Her closets were filled with a 4 season display A second love was chocolate for it bore medicinal power Along with Gin Raisins Sour kraut juice, and orange floats Others were hot sauce on a Tostada, A Fat Alberto, and Nachos with lots of green chilies on the side, of course Most of all she loved her family, Big, slim, short, or Tall And provided lots of FREE life advice to one and all Granny learned about life’s pit falls from Her clients in her shop Mistakes many humans make but Mistakes Granny warned her family about Mom was generous, in her own way But 30 dollars was a huge sum When from the Great Depression you did come Granny met her financial goal in 2016 But could not believe it, even when On a financial report it was seen She practiced financial restraint Until her last breath Granny kept the habit Of Squeezing a penny to death Mom told everyone Why does God leave me here My ankle aches, my shoulder pains Bad eyes and bad ears It is no longer fun to be here Mom thought God would take her But he fooled her you see The decision to leave God left totally up to She Mom liked to be in charge Of all the decisions in her life But this last decision, the decision to leave us Caught her by surprise It was a decision Mom thought God would make But then Mom finally figured out God left it up to her That was what it was all about Mom looked up to heaven And then told me, Randy, I am tired of fighting This is my exit, a decision by me Mom your battle is over We must remember your lessons Or we are doomed to repeat them For the rest of our seasons Mom, you are in our body, soul, and mind And each time we reach for a candy bar We will hear, “that’s fine, chocolate has medicinal powers You will see! We love and miss you Granny, Joyce, MOM Give Bud a big hug for each and everyone. 2021 July 24 by Randy THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GRANNY It is a well know fact when you unite in marriage you gain not only a spouse, you gain a second family. I could not have been more blessed to gain the family I did. Today, I want to pay tribute to my Mother-In-Law, Joyce, more affectionately known to our family as “Granny.” We all know the changes we have seen in our own lives but it is hard to wrap our head around the changes Joyce experienced through her 90-year longevity. Born in the Great depression, she grew up in a very small house with no electricity, no running water, hence no indoor plumbing, no telephone. Heat was provided by a wood cook stove.They ate what they raised. On Saturday night water was heated to fill a round wash tub for bathing starting with the youngest up through the adults – all in the same water. When Joyce was 6 their house burned down. Fast forward to Joyce’s final years enjoying all the modern conveniences of our time just as you and I. She left this world having lived with heat and air conditioning, running water, indoor plumbing, electricity, not just a telephone, but a cell phone, ipad, wifi, cable TV and ever changing modern automobiles. Over the last few months I have been transcribing her hand-written and audio taped life history. It is filled with so much most of us can never imagine experiencing. Yet, through all of those 90 years she always focused her appreciation on WHAT SHE DID HAVE! Joyce played a significant role in shaping me into the person I am today. She was a woman who loved and cared for her family deeply and a woman of great faith. She was also a person who spoke what she was thinking, you never had to guess. Today I want to share with you what I have titled: “The Gospel According to Granny.” The book of Genesis tells us the creation story. God created the universe, earth, plants, animals and people. And God saw that it was good. JOYCE SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. She never quit marveling at the beauty of all her surroundings. She loved to travel, whether it be a ride into the mountains for the day, a trip to the desert, the hills, the plains, across the border to Canada or Mexico or across the ocean to Europe or Australia. She saw beauty in every place she visited and never failed to chat with the local people. Her last trip was Memorial Day weekend when we took her to Billings for grandson, Payton’s graduation. All the way there and back she pointed out the newborn lambs and calves, snow still on the mountain peaks and how green the fields were. Her love of nature and growing things extended to her daily life. Jeremiah Chapter 29, Verse 5 says: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” Granny loved to garden whether it be flowers, vegetables or house plants. She was a NURTURING person and she truly knew how to nurture plants. I think I developed my love of gardening from watching her and I can look around my flower gardens today and point out plants that were taken as starters from her garden or moved to my gardens when she sold her house. Once she sold her house and moved into Golden Eagles we would bring her flowers and fresh produce from our gardens. She always raved that you just couldn’t buy vegetables like that at the store. Her favorite was corn on the cob. Most recently, on our trip to Billings we loaded up several of her houseplants she was ready to turn over to someone else’s care and took them to grandson, Dyllan, who has also inherited a love of plants. He’s the only person I have met that can make an orchid bloom OVER AND OVER AND OVER with up to 6 blooms each time. Her plants are in good hands. Phillipians Chapter 2, Verse 4 tells us: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Granny had a very kind and giving spirit and an was an advocate for those who needed her help. She had one friend in particular that she had grown up with in the Sun River Valley. This friend was now in a skilled nursing facility and Joyce visited her consistently. This particular day she arrived right at dinner time and her friend was just sitting there looking at her dinner. Joyce asked her if she wasn’t feeling well. She said, “Just look at this food. Would you want to eat it?” Joyce looked at the tray, an overcooked chicken breast, mashed potatoes and cauliflower. Not a bright spot of color on the tray. She said “I picked up her tray, marched down to the administrator’s office, plopped it down on his desk in front of him and said “You expect the residents to eat this, HERE, LET ME SEE YOU EAT IT!” Proverbs Chapter 18 Verse 15 tells us: “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Granny finished high school, then attended Beauty School. She loved being a beautician and she had great aspirations for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, anyone she felt could benefit from higher education. She often offered her support to someone she felt could truly benefit not only through encouragement, but financially as much as she could.I should know. I was a recipient of her encouragement and generosity. She wanted to be sure Randy got through college and strongly believed that if I also got through college we could always make it through any rough times. She was a VERY WISE LADY. In Chapter 5, Verse 11 of 1st Thessalonians we hear: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Granny had a great circle of friends because SHE KNEW HOW TO BE A GOOD FRIEND. Her church friends were important to her. I remember her telling us how she looked forward to coming to women’s group when Randy and Jim were little. She said “It was better than a psychologist. I got to leave the kids in the nursery and JUST ENJOY THE ADULTS”. She kept in close contact with her High School class.Her Beauty School Class got together at least once a year. She formed great friendships through her TOPS group, Extension Homemakers, a Birthday Club her Beauty Shop Customers and numerous other acquaintances. She was one of the few people I know who was consistent about sitting down, picking up the phone and calling friends and relatives just to catch up. She was also one of those people who still dialed up those people through looking at the number in her address book. Try as we did, she could never catch on to the concept of “contacts” in her cell phone and how to dial them with just the touch of one button. In conclusion, I want to share with you a statement on a refrigerator magnet I saw as I was walking out of the pharmacy one day. I decided it was definitely depicting granny. The magnet pictured an elderly lady greeting the pastor as she leaves the church service. As she references the day’s sermon, she looks up at the pastor and says, “So, you say the streets of heaven are paved with gold, I WAS SO HOPING THEY WOULD BE PAVED WITH CHOCOLATE.” You cannot have known Granny without knowing she LOVED chocolate, not just any chocolate but specifically German Chocolate Cake and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. She told Randy and I several years ago, as we brought her some milk chocolates for a special occasion, “You be sure that at my funeral every person gets a full sized Hershey Bar.” Please don’t leave today without taking a Hershey bar in memory of Joyce and in the future when you are enjoying a chocolate craving moment, think of her. We truly hope she is surrounded by chocolate in heaven.