Joyce Elaine Martwick, 78, of Balfour, ND, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026 at St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey, ND after a long fight with hip, shoulder, and knee replacements and a bad infecting. Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at the Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home in Drake, ND. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM Monday, November 2, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Drake with Pastor Greg Longtin officiating. Burial will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

Joyce Elaine (Heydt) Martwick was born January 11, 1948 to Fred and Emma (Mehl) Heydt in Harvey, ND. They farmed south of Drake. Joyce graduated from Drake Public School in Drake, ND in 1966. She worked for Gust Janevarus at the store in Drake. She then met the love of her life, Bruce Martwick, and got married on April 23, 1967 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Drake. They live at Balfour and she worked at the Empress Café in Drake, and also Pete’s standard in Balfour. She also worked at the Morris Hotel for a while.

Bruce and Joyce then moved to Hoven, SD then back to Bismarck, ND. Then they moved back to Hoven, SD, where they were blessed with a daughter, DeAnn Martwick. At nine months old, DeAnn started walking while they were packing to move to Willow City, ND. Then they finally purchased land from Bruce’s father and settled down on their own farm and had Dairy Cows and farmed and Bruce started trucking. In 1990, they quit milking and kept the cows for range cattle and then farmed and trucked. While Bruce was out on the road, Joyce held down the fort at home taking care of the cows, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, cats, sheep and pigs. And did the mowing, she would put on her music and cut the grass. Bruce and DeAnn would try and take Joyce along on some trips with the truck but she was happier just being on the farm to take care of her animals.

Joyce loved peonies and red geraniums and purple petunias. She also loved to go fishing down at the river and if we went fishing with the boat somewhere it was usually quite an adventure!! Joyce will be missed by everyone who knew her and her great laugh she had and usually always a smile on her face.

Joyce is survived by her husband of 59 ½ years, Bruce; her daughter, DeAnn Martwick and her boyfriend William Pickles of Henry, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Emma Heydt; and brother, Darrel Heydt.