Joyce Ann Wiederhold was born in Vancouver, Washington, on August 4, 1930, to Adolph and Anna (Kokel) Wiederhold. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy, Portland, Oregon, in 1948, earned her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Minot State in 1972, and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, in 1978. She was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

She married Forrest Olson at Drake, North Dakota, in 1949. She was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest, in 1984, and a daughter-in-law, Sara, in 2012. She married Myron Dammen in Minot, North Dakota, in 1994.

She farmed with her husband, Forrest, at Drake, for 35 years. She taught English and related subjects at Balfour High School from 1972 to 1974.

She served as Meals on Wheels Program Director for the Minot Commission on Aging from 1974 to 1975 and as Region II Aging Services Coordinator from 1975 to 1977.

She worked at the State Capitol in the Department of Human Services in several programmatic areas from 1979 to 1983. She was Director of the Consortium of Gerontology and the Elder Health Center in Grand Forks, from 1983 to 1989, and was the Director of Social Work Services, Medical Center Rehabilitation Hospital, Grand Forks, from 1989 to 1991.

She returned to Minot, and served as a Rehabilitation Specialist with North Dakota Worker's Compensation for Cigna Insurance and Corvel, Inc. from 1992 to 1996.

She served on the Boards of the Grand Forks Mission, the Mental Health Association of North Dakota and the League of Women Voters, as well as serving on Governor Sinner's Commission on Aging.

After retirement, she volunteered with the Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and as a Mental Health Professional with the Red Cross. She counseled at several disaster sites, including after Hurricane Andrew in Homestead, Florida, and New York City after 9-11. She was an active member of the Minot Area Council for International Visitors.

She is the parent of Muryl (Kristina), Steven, Jon David (Cheryl), Roger (Regina), Linda (David), Mark (Mary), Karen, and Kathryn (Ron), and the step-parent of Kevin (Christy), Joni, Mark (Vivene) and Bob (Helene).

She has 14 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.

At her request, formal funeral services will not be held. Although Joyce loved flowers, she preferred those in her gardens. Please send memorials to the Superior Hiking Trail Association, where she loved to hike, www.shta.org; or the Minot Area Council for International Visitors at the Minot State University Development Foundation, http://www.minotstateu.edu/maciv; or work to further world peace and promote greater cultural understanding in her name.

She did not want family and friends to mourn her death, but rather celebrate her life. Celebrate with her family and friends on July 23, at 2:00 p.m. at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Minot, North Dakota.