Joyce Rae (Joy, Vlasak) Kinshella, 79

Joyce Rae (Joy, Vlasak) Kinshella passed Aug. 10, 2016, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, after a short stay due to complications of past cancer treatments.

She was born Sept. 6, 1936, in Kalispell to “Ernie” and Ida (Becker) Kinshella. She was the fourth of four daughters. She went to various grade schools in the valley and Flathead High.

She lived most of her life in Kalispell. The family briefly lived in California and Eugene, Oregon. For the most, this was always home.

She live an adventurous life. Her father came from a large family; they were some of the first loggers in the valley. Lots of time and many summers were spent in the various logging camps. Many stories were told. Two she talked a lot about: As a very small child the range bull (who was mean) that hung around camp got her cornered in the outhouse for hours, until her father got back to camp. Then, as a young woman she helped her aunt cook in camp for a large logging crew. She spent hours baking pies for the next day. That night a black bear got in the cook house and made a horrible mess. She was most upset by the fact that he sat in all of them instead of eating them. So to this day if a pie doesn’t turn out, we say, “Yup, not even fit for a bear.”

In 1954 she married Robert “Bob” Joy in Kalispell. From that union they had two daughters.

In 2007 Mom met the very best friend in her whole life, Bob Bradford. They went everywhere and did everything together; she even started riding “Harley’s.” She had her own set of leathers and wore them proudly; she called herself a “biker babe.” She was still talking about the grand trip to Florida with Bob to see his daughter.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Ernie and Ida; two sisters, JoAnn Hall and Arlene Knutson; and two nieces.

She is survived by her daughters, Rhonda Stevens (husband Bob) and Sherene Joy; grandson, Brandon Dewey (wife Tasha); granddaughter, Ashley Dewey; sister, Norma (husband John) McGregor; many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families; also her bestest friend Bob Bradford, his children Mitch, Jimmie, Tammie, and Debbie.

We want to use Mom and Bob’s goodbye saying ...”Love Ya, See Ya.”

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.