Joyce Bryans

Carpio

Joyce Leatrice Bryans, 94, Carpio, died Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at a Minot assisted living facility.

She was born June 15, 1930, in Pine River, Minn., to Edward and Beulah (Thorpe) Tollefsrud.

Due to her father’s occupation as a depot agent, the family moved to several small towns before settling in Hartland, where she attended school.

Working on the Bryans Ranch, Joyce met Dwayne Bryans. They married on Dec. 19, 1950, in Mohall, and made their home in Carpio, where she stayed at home raising their children and assisting with the daily chores including the milking of the cows. Dwayne passed away June 30, 1985.

Learning to sew from her mother-in-law, Florence, Joyce sewed many of her children’s clothes and enjoyed sewing for her grandchildren as well.

She spent many hours in the kitchen canning vegetables from her garden and baking, always having a freezer full of goodies, “the world’s best banana bread” and apple pies made from her backyard tree.

In the summers, she loved spending time outside in her many flower beds. While Joyce took pride in having an immaculate house, the Bryans children remember being awoken by the vacuum and the slamming of the cupboards early every morning.

For many years, she acted as a care provider for her brother-in-law, Gene.

Coming from a musical family, she enjoyed singing and was an avid member of the Carpio Lutheran Church Choir. Thursday afternoon Bible studies at the church took precedence over everything else.

She dearly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will be greatly missed.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the many caretakers at Edgewood Vista and Caring Edge.

Surviving Family: daughters, Debi (Svein) Tengesdal, Bjerkreim, Norway, Cindy (Dean) Feldner, Donnybrook, Kathy (Rod) Harmon, Minot; son, Randy (Donna) Bryans, Carpio; grandchildren, Michael Gustafson, Donovan (Becky) Knutson, Vance Knutson, Chris Tengesdal, Valerie (Chad) Weigel, David (Jade) Feldner, Tyler Harmon, Amber Harmon, Tara Bryans and Tracy Bryans; great-grandchildren, Lane Feldner, Lynndon Feldner, Lee Feldner, Bailey Weigel and Zoe Weigel; brother, Charles Tollefsrud; sister, Beverly Lucas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joyce was preceded in death by: her husband, Dwayne Bryans; daughter, Sherrye Gustafson; son-in-law, Glenn Gustafson; sisters, Ruth Bryans, Charlene Johnson and Elna Picard; brothers-in-law, Dennis Johnson, Delano Lucas, Edward (Virginia) Bryans, Lynn Bryans and Gene Bryans.

Funeral: 11 a.m., Monday, April 7, 2025, at Carpio Lutheran Church, Carpio.

Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, rural Minot.

Visitation: 9 to 11 a.m., Monday, at the church.

Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.

Memorials: Memorials are preferred to Carpio Lutheran Church, Carpio.

(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 5, 2025.