Joy L. Kalis

Joy L. Kalis age 83 of Walhalla and St. Thomas, ND died on Friday, February 1, 2008, at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake, ND. Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 7, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the Walhalla-Park Center, Presbyterian Church, Walhalla, ND. Visitation on Wednesday, February 6th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Askew Funeral Home, Walhalla, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services. Burial in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Walhalla, ND.
Joy Lorraine Bennett was born September 12, 1924, in Hoople, ND, the only child of Edward and Edna (Rutherford) Bennett. At the age of one her family moved to Walhalla. The family moved many times in the Walhalla area to be near work. Joy had to quit school during the seventh grade to care for her mother who was severely crippled by an automobile accident.
In 1940, she married August John Kalis, Jr. at Leroy, ND. During the war, August fixed up a new granary as their first home so he could help on the family farm near Leroy. In the fall of 1945, they moved their small home to Walhalla where they lived and raised their family. Besides being a housewife, Joy worked at many jobs in a café, house cleaning, grocery store, farm labor, nursing home laundry, and missile sites. They moved to St. Thomas in 1979, after August's retirement from farm work. August died in 1980, she continued living in St. Thomas for many years.
Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She will be remembered as a kind and gentle woman who loved animals. Joy's many dear pets were an important part of her life.
She is survived by her children, Shirley Magnus (Gordy S.), Devils Lake, ND; Rodney L. (Terri) Kalis, Grand Forks, ND; grandchildren, Vicki Olson, Ricky Magnus, Kristin Kalis; six great grandchildren; and Gloria (Rob) Kroshus, Vancouver, WA, whom Joy raised from early childhood.
Also preceding her in death were her parents, and infant children, Alvina Mae and Donald Edward.
Clergy: Pastor Judy Moos.
Music: Sharon Carpenter, Organist and Connie Eagan, Soloist.
Casket Bearers: Francis Kalis, Kayla Kalis, Kristin Kalis, Ricky Magnus, Donovan Olson, and Rodger Wyman.