Joan Halvorson

Joan M. Halvorson, age 77 of Cottage Grove, formerly of St. Paul, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2015.

Funeral will be 1:00 pm Fri., June 19, 2015 at Hope Community Church, 8300 Hyde Ave. S, Cottage Grove. Visitation will be Thurs., June 18, 2015, from 5-8 pm at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 – 80th St. S, Cottage Grove and also one hour prior to the service at church. Memorials will be donated to causes that were dear to Joan's heart. Interment will be at Cottage Grove Cemetery.

Joan Marie Halvorson was born December 19, 1937 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Roy "Clary" and Bernadine (White) Ehnstrom. She grew up on St. Paul's East Side and graduated from Harding High School in 1955. On graduation night, she went on a cruise around town with a few classmates, including Frederick Halvorson, who had invited her to join them. Joan and Fred were united in marriage on October 6, 1956 and they made their home in St Paul. She was employed at the VA Hospital as a medical secretary for a few years before her daughters were born. Joan loved being a mom and cherished her years as they grew up. She was very involved at the Hazel Park Alliance Church where she taught Sunday School and sang in the church choir. In 1980, she took a position at St. John's Hospital where she was employed as a medical secretary for 29 years before her retirement.

As Joan's mother aged, she was very devoted to taking care of her needs and guiding her through transitions. After living in St. Paul for over 40 years, Joan and Fred moved to Cottage Grove in 2007. She appreciated traveling to southern Minnesota with her family to visit the farm of her daughter, Julaine. Joan enjoyed watching the Jewelry Channel and looked forward to her weekly "Funday" lunches at OCB with her girls and grandchildren.

Joan is survived by her husband Fred; daughters, Julaine Stark, Kristen (Dan) Stewart, Andrea (Scott) Gervais; grandchildren, Matthew, Eric, Kaitlyn and Megan Stark, Jessica and Joshua Stewart, Jacob and Nicole Gervais; brothers, George (Georgette) Ehnstrom and Dann (Nancy) Ehnstrom as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents and infant sister Marsha Julaine.