Joyce Christensen

Joyce Christensen, age 78, of Yankton, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Memorial services will be 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 17 at the United Church of Christ (Congregational) in Yankton with Pastor Edie Broadbent officiating. There will be coffee, snacks and fellowship at the church hall following the service. Burial will take place at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Wessington Springs at a later date. Online condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com. Livestreaming of Joyce’s memorial service may be viewed at: https://server.attend.live/static/event/R685Y. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Joyce was born and raised in Wessington Springs, South Dakota. After graduation from Wessington Springs High School, she attended South Dakota State University in Brookings before beginning a career that took her to many places. Joyce lived in Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Anchorage, Alaska, working for many years in the travel industry. Later she returned to Yankton and worked in admissions at the Human Services Center.

Joyce enjoyed playing Scrabble, reading, and staying connected with friends and family. She also loved traveling and visited destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Europe, and many places across the United States. Her beloved parakeets, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, were special companions.

Though Joyce had no children of her own, she deeply enjoyed her seven nieces and nephews and their families. After retiring, she volunteered at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and devoted time to helping friends with groceries, transportation, and more. Joyce maintained lifelong friendships both near and far and was blessed by those relationships. She was an active member of the United Church of Christ in Yankton.

Joyce is survived by her brothers Bruce (Teri) of Sioux Falls and Dean (Shirlyn) of Aberdeen, sister-in-law Janice of Huron, and nieces and nephews Wade, Charlie, Anna, Brittany, Brice, Drew, and Weston, along with their spouses and children. She was preceded in death by her parents Harvey and Lavolla, her brother Lyle, and her twin nephews.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Memorials can be directed to the United Church of Christ in Yankton or to the South Dakota Community Foundation/Christensen Family Memorial Fund.