JoAnn Gyda (Finch) Duncan, 81, passed “from her earthly home into heaven” on Nov. 4, 2013, at HealthCenter Northwest in Kalispell.

JoAnn was born on May 16, 1932, in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., to Hadden Alvin “Tom” and Gyda Christine (Jarvis) Finch. She moved with her family to Eureka in 1942. She attended Eureka Elementary School and Lincoln County High School where she lettered in band, graduating in 1950.

With employment being in short supply in the Eureka area, JoAnn moved to Bremerton, Wash., to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Harriet and Larry Curtiss. After about a year JoAnn lived with her longtime school friend, Joyce Purdy (Dickison). The two girls worked as telephone operators at the Puget Sound Navy Yard. 

JoAnn met Don Duncan on a blind date and they were married on Oct. 31, 1953. Don was stationed in the United States Army at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash. The couple had a son, Harold Don, born at the Fort Lewis Army Hospital in Tacoma in 1954.

Following Don's honorable discharge from the Army in 1955 the family moved to Brownsville, Texas, where Don resumed his pre-service employment at Freedom Newspapers' The Brownsville Herald. Their first daughter, Ann Junette, was born in Brownsville in 1955, followed by another daughter, Carolyn Margaret, in 1957.

JoAnn stayed at home to raise the children until 1974 when she worked briefly at a real estate office. In 1975 she began to work full time at Texas Southmost College in the registrar's office, retiring in October 1990.

Don died on Nov. 12, 1990, and JoAnn moved to Kalispell in 1991. She attended First Presbyterian Church for many years where she was active in the Presbyterian Women. In 2006 JoAnn felt that God called her to Faith Covenant Presbyterian Church. She was active in Elizabeth Group, served occasionally at coffee hour and helped with communion set up. She also contributed regularly to the Flathead Food Bank and Neighbors in Need collection bins at Faith Covenant Church. She had volunteered at the food bank for several years.

JoAnn was always known and loved for her sweet, loving, generous, but feisty and witty personality. She was always supportive of and helpful to her family and friends, praying faithfully for their needs. She was sweet and loving to her children and grandchildren, but especially fond of teasing her sons-in-law, grandsons-in-law and men at church.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her brother, Harold, when they were children; her parents, Tom and Gyda; husband, Don; and brother, Jarvis. 

She is survived by her sister, Harriet, and Larry Curtiss, of Fortine; brother, John, and Helen Finch, of St. Cloud, Minn.; son, Harold, and Beth Duncan, of Eureka; and daughters, Anne and Brant Welty Duncan of Kyle, Texas, and Carolyn Duncan and Russ Hadley of Kalispell. JoAnn is also survived by grandchildren, Nolan Aycock, and Ryan and Katie Aycock, of Houston, Terri and Aaron Rasmussen, and Alyssa and Paul Hobus, of Kalispell, and Sarah Duncan-Welty of Dodge City, Kan.; and great-grandchildren, Audrey Rasmussen of Kalispell and Christopher Aycock of Houston. Additionally, JoAnn is survived by numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8 at Glacier Memorial Gardens, followed by a celebration of JoAnn’s life to be held at 11 a.m. at Faith Covenant Church, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Pierson, followed by a light luncheon in the church fellowship hall. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Faith Covenant Church-Journey of Faith, Flathead Food Bank, Neighbors in Need, or a charity of the donor's choice. 

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.