Joan Marie Soderstrom Williams, 87, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Mother Joseph Manor.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Carlsen Funeral Home in Aberdeen, SD, with Pastor Mike Kampa officiating. There will be time allotted for sharing stories and memories of Joan.
Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Aberdeen, SD, following the service.
A time of fellowship, including a picnic, will follow at the home of Molly and Kevin Johnson.
Visitation will be an hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In keeping with Joan’s wishes, the family asks anyone attending to dress casually.
Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen is handling arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at https://www.carlsenfh.com/ and view a recording of the service.
Joan Marie Soderstrom was born on March 16, 1938, at Methodist Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, to Louise (Forsling) and Earl Soderstrom. She grew up in Sioux City, graduating from Sioux City Central High School, where she was a cheerleader and involved in numerous clubs. Her father owned The Nuthouse, a candy and nut shop, in Sioux City, where she sometimes worked during those years. When her father died, her mother married Victor Olson, who was fondly known as Gramps to Joan’s children.
Joan went to Greely, CO, for college, where she met Edward Lloyd Williams. On June 9, 1957, Joan married Edward. They had four children: Marc, Melinda, Molly, and Susan. They lived in several different places: Tarzana, CA (Ed’s hometown), Sioux City, IA, Rapid City, SD, and Huron, SD. When they eventually moved their family to Aberdeen, SD, Joan finished her college education at Northern and became an elementary school teacher. She taught for nearly 30 years at Howard Hedger Elementary School, impacting the young lives of so many children with her creative teaching and authentic interest in each student. As a young mother, she was very involved and supportive of the many activities of her children, from softball, competitive swimming, scouts, school, and church activities.
Joan was active in the life of Plymouth Congregational Church, serving on many committees, teaching Sunday School, and leading Vacation Bible School. She worked part-time at the Aberdeen Hallmark Store, as well.
Facts and details do not come close to embodying who Joan Soderstrom Williams was as a person. She was always gracious, always positive, always kind–the epitome of hospitality and grace. Even if you said you weren’t hungry, you ended up with a sandwich and a drink at her house! She loved shoes and her favorite lipstick (Cover Girl #15), mowing the grass, and summers at the swimming pool.
Blessed to have been a part of Joan’s family are her children: Marc (Kathy) Williams of Stratford, SD; Molly (Kevin) Johnson of Aberdeen, SD; and Melinda Williams of Box Elder, SD; her grandchildren: Ken Reed; Michelle (Riley) Bietz; Kelli (Kendall) Stroud; Kevin (Morgan) Krumm; Andy (Katie) Johnson; Josh Johnson; Jason (Rachel) Williams; and Aaron Williams, great- grandchildren: Mallory and Mason Fortin, Nova and Colt Bietz; Chloe, Mady and Coyer Stroud; Elliott, Benny, Max and Sloan Johnson, Jasper and Roxanne Williams.
Preceding Joan in death are her parents, Louise and Earl, her husband, Edward, her daughter, Susan (Frank) Krumm, her great-grandson, Evan Fortin, and her sister, Luann Eckert.
Because Joan always felt that someone would have to take care of flowers, the family suggests memorial funds for a park bench, which can be sent to Molly Johnson at 1230 Gemini Ave. Aberdeen, SD 57401.
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