Joyce Louise (Veitl) Shostrom, 85 of Spearfish, died on May 1, 2017 at the David M Dorsett Healthcare Center. She was born on August 13, 1931 in Deadwood, SD to Albert and Nina (Allen) Veitl. Joyce was the third generation of Deadwood. She was in the Deadwood High School class of 1949.

Growing up in Deadwood, Joyce was surrounded by her brothers and male cousins who used her for tackling practice in football and as the way our outfielder when playing softball. When ice skating at Blacktail they often put her on the tail end of the whip and then would let her go. She was 12 years old when she started working as an usherette at the Deadwood theater. No child labor laws in Deadwood. One of her brothers would walk home with her every night after the movie. This was growing up in Deadwood in the 1930's and 40's.

Joyce and her husband Keith, started going together after Keith returned to Deadwood from serving with the Marines in the Korean War. They were married on August 22, 1953 in Deadwood. Their sons, John and Mark were born in Deadwood while Keith was attending Black Hills State University. After Keith graduated they moved to the Black Hills Oardnance Depot at Igloo, SD where Keith taught school for two years.

Joyce always loved to travel and seeing new things, and she did. When Keith entered the Federal Service the real moving started. They lived in Denver twice, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Washington DC, Hong Kong and New Delhi, India. In their first 29 years of married life they moved 10 times and moved into 22 different homes not counting numerous temporary hotels. Joyce was a stay at home mom and was always a willing volunteer. Her days always began with the daily crossword. She was an avid reader and it was not uncommon to see her reading three or four books at a time.

She spent a dozen years in the foreign service with her husband, posted at the American Embassies and Consulates. As the wife of a diplomat, she regularly assisted and entertained visiting members of the US Congress and their wives, White House staffers, foreign officials and visiting VIP's. Joyce loved traveling and traveled to 47 of the US states and to over 50 foreign countries. Keith always said Joyce was a great navigator as she had a good understanding of French, German and Hindi languages. She was great to have in a French or German restaurant since she could read the menu. When they frequently got lost on road trips in India, Joyce would get out of the Bronco and talk to the locals to get directions. When 2 out of 3 pointed in the same direction, that is the way they would go.

Overseas Joyce was very active in the American Women's Association, serving as president in Hong Kong and New Delhi. In New Delhi, she ran a library use by the US, Canadian, British and Australian Embassies. She also ran a servant's placement service in New Delhi that was used by all the western embassies. The US Ambassador to India gave Joyce a special commendation for her outstanding contribution to the American community in India.

After Keith retired they moved back to Deadwood. Joyce was one of the original "Bag Ladies" of the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and received the chambers Nel Perague Award. She served 10 years as a trustee of the Deadwood Public Library and was instrumental in the construction of the fire-resistant vault in the library. Joyce was a life member of the VFW Auxiliary, a 60+ year member of the Beta Signa Phi Master Beta Chapter, a member of the Round Table Club and a longtime member of the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in New Mexico and Colorado where she worked for 15 summers as a volunteer. Joyce and Keith were ardent RV'ers and spent many winters in Palm Springs, CA and Casa Grande, AZ amd many summer trips to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks and the Canadian Rockies. They always loved to take a fall trip to the Wisconsin cheese country and the Amana Colonies in Iowa.

Joyce was a loving wife and mothers. She is survived by Keith, her husband of 63 years; sons, John of Hong Kong and Mark of Los Angeles, CA; sister, Janet of Gold Run, CA; brothers, Jack of Lead and Jim of Hot Springs; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Elizabeth and brothers, George and Albert.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Inurnment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com