Joyce Ann (Nelson) Jenkins

Our mother, Joyce Ann (Nelson) Jenkins passed away on October 7, 2026. She was born on October 18, 1935 to Theodore Milfred and Mabelle Julia (Peterson) Nelson. Delivered by Dr. E.E. Fry, she was born in his hospital across the street from the current hospital. Papa and Grandma lived in the Twenty Mile area when both Mom and her little brother Clare T were born.

In 1942, Papa, needing work, moved the family to Burke, Idaho to work the mine. Mom attended half of first grade in Burke. Her family returned to Boundary County in the spring of 1943, and she finished first grade at Naples School. Papa and Grandma purchased the old McArthur homestead. Mom and her brother Clare T had an adventurous childhood, growing up on “The Ranch” at McArthur.

Mom attended McArthur School (when there were enough children to keep it open) and Naples School (from which she graduated eighth grade); graduating from Bonners Ferry High School. Known as “Shorty” and voted the “Most Outstanding Girl” of her class in high school, Mom was a member of Future Homemakers of America, Girls League, Commercial Club, Band, Latin Club, Annual Staff  (Asst. Editor), and Class Treasurer. In FHA, she was Secretary her sophomore year, Reporter her junior year, and Chapter & State Parliamentarian her senior year, attending the seventh annual national convention in Columbus, Ohio in 1953. The girls in FHA raised money for her trip by having car washes and washing windows.

As a teen, Mom worked at the Gypsy Grill in Naples and the Elmira Store, where she met Robert (Bob) Jenkins (an Elmira boy). They began their married life April 30, 1954; four days later Dad returned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he was stationed in the army. Her high school graduation was postponed a week because of high water from the Kootenai River; she graduated on May 27, 1954. Once graduated, she joined Dad.

Army life involved travel, and they spent time in New Orleans where their son Larry was born. After Dad’s honorable discharge, they returned to the area settling in Spokane. Their four daughters Marianne, Barbara, Susan, and Julie were all born in Spokane, between moves to Boise and Salt Lake and back while Dad worked for Otis Elevator. The family moved back to Elmira, in 1968. The marriage ended, and Mom moved us back to Boundary County, living in Naples then Bonners Ferry. She raised us as a single parent; we grew to adulthood and began our families.

Mom worked at the Boundary County Senior Center as the Retired Senior Volunteers Program Coordinator. She enjoyed helping seniors, and with Jim Lyons’ convincing had the volunteers take on the project of a county history book. It became a three-year project with Jim (Producer) and Mom (Joyce Co-Producer), and the many volunteers logging 9,000 hours on the project. Mom became a teacher of the English language, tutoring a Vietnamese family. She opened her home to several young people providing foster care. In our younger years, Mom invited “Grandma” Irene Parshall to live with us; we loved her dearly. Mom finished her work career as office manager for Reliable Builders, retiring when Grandma came to live with her after Papa passed away.

Mom loved to garden, harvest, and eat what she planted including picking the lambs quarters as tender shoots to sauté. She enjoyed her house plants African Violets, “Wicked Wilma” the spider plant, the “stinky” geraniums, and every avocado pit or pineapple top she could start to grow. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting afghans for everyone. Mom took a writing course and began writing a historical novel based on a young girl’s adventures. She understood the Norwegian language - as that was what was spoken most often while growing up, but always said she didn’t speak it, with the exception of “Uff-da” which she said all the time. Everyone knows she was really good at planning a pot-luck, and is known for the best brownies any grand or great-grand child ever ate.

Mom was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1971, attended conventions, and remained a faithful Christian to her last day. She believed there would come a day that mankind would live in a world of peace and love under the guidance of Jesus Christ, son of Jehovah God. Her faith was her life, and she encouraged others to join her in that faith. Mom mailed hundreds of sympathy cards to relatives, friends, and people she didn’t even know sharing scriptures and telling them of life on a paradise earth.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents Milfred and Mabelle; grandparents Thomas and Christina Nelson, Jesse and Anna Peterson (Peterson Hill) - Divide County, North Dakota pioneers; nephew Thomas Nelson; fellow Badgers from the Class of 1954; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mom is survived by her brother Clare T (Donna) Nelson; our dad Bob Jenkins; son Larry (Lorinda) Jenkins; daughters Marianne (David) Duarte; Barbara (William) Truscott; Susan (Rodney) Kemmis; and Julie (Carolyn) Jenkins; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; many grand-puppies; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; her family of caregivers at the ECF Wing and Restorium; many friends and the few remaining classmates of the Class of 1954; and her family in fellowship of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Mom - “Sis, Grandma, Nanny, Great-Grandma, Great-Grammy, Aunt, Cousin” - you are our life blood. We would not be who we are, if not for your love and guidance. We know you are resting peacefully, and we will see you again. Love you more, even though you always said, “Loved You First.”

Joyce Ann Jenkins will be remembered at a memorial service at the Bonners Ferry Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 2 p.m. October 31, 2026. Her interment will be in the spring at Grandview Cemetery near her grandparents Jesse and Anna Peterson. Also in the spring, a gathering of family and friends will be held to celebrate Mom’s life. This will be a time to enjoy her love of “potlucks.”