Joyce Arlene (Dake) Calkins, 94, of Wessington Springs, SD, died Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD. A Celebration of Life for Joyce will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Foothills Bible Fellowship Church in Wessington Springs.
Joyce Arlene Dake was born October 15, 1931, to William Earl and Beaulah Marie (Flannery) Dake in Garfield Township, Kalkaska County Michigan.
OnJune5,1948, in Garfield Township, Michigan Joyce married her neighborhood sweetheart Willard V. Calkins and spent their honeymoon on the Milwaukee Clipper.
As their young family grew they often relocated for employment opportunities for Willard, traversing throughout the state of Michigan. In the late 1950’s Joyce struggled with health problems and her Doctor advised the family move to a dryer climate.
In 1961, Willard and Joyce moved to Ft. Collins CO then on to Chambers NE, and Rock Springs, WY where Joyce served in the financial department of JC Penny’s. She was a master of personal and financial integrity. In 1994 the couple moved to Wessington Springs, SD living near their children and worked at Jack Link’s Jerky in Alpena SD.
Joyce will always be remembered for her warm friendship and hospitality. She had the ability to tackle any situation with grace and tenacity. Regardless of the situation, she always made the dwelling home. A cabin in the logging camps, cracker box houses, aging ranch houses, tent with campfire cooking, or camper travel trailers. An excellent cook, she always pulled up another chair for the unexpected guest.
Joyce had a love for art and poetry and often penned verses of rhyme reflecting experiences in her life. With an artistic eye for detail she often drew pictures of important aspects of the ranching culture, wildlife and animals. Etiquette, personal appearance, decoram and manners were always displayed, never finding fault with others or speaking unkindly against those who offended. Always a lady, always kind and always cheerful.
Joyce accepted Christ as a teenager and was a perpetual student of the Holy Bible. She read the word every single day and passed on her love for and knowledge of His word to many students throughout the decades as well as her family, friends and children.
Grateful for having shared Joyce’s life are her children: Valerie (Leo) Channel, April (Pastor Don) Grubb, and Gregory (Jeri Clay) Calkins; grandchildren Shane, Sheila and Chad Channel, Spencer and Autumn Grubb, and Justin, Nicole and Joshua Calkins; nineteen greatgrandchildren; five greatgreat- grandchildren; her siblings:Franklin Levoy and Fredrick Eugene Dake and wife Joyce; Sisterin- laws Nellie Calkins Swartz, Nadine Kisner Dake.
Preceding Joyce in death are her husband Willard V. Calkins; parents William Earl and Beaulah Marie (Flannery) Dake, Fatherin- law Vivian R. Calkins, sisters Kathleen (Ralph) Moore and Shirley (Ron) Knapp; brothers Carl, Richard and infant Brian Dake, Sisters-in-law Frances Dake, Dorothy (Jim) Coldiron as well as extended family members. Arrangements are with Nurnberg-Basham Funeral Service.