JoAnn Ruth Veldkamp, 64, Jasper, died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A funeral service was Friday, Aug. 18, at Grand Prairie Events in Luverne. Burial followed in the Jasper City Cemetery.
JoAnn Morrill was born to Harry and Ruth (Gilmore) Morrill on Jan. 7, 1953, in Madison, South Dakota, where her parents farmed. She attended school in Madison and graduated from Madison High School in 1971. During her senior year of high school, she began working as a bookkeeper and continued in that position after graduation.
JoAnn married Jim Veldkamp on June 10, 1972. Following their marriage they moved to a farm near Jasper. JoAnn worked a short time at the Jasper Journal before taking a secretarial job at the Jasper Elementary School. In 1973 Jim and JoAnn purchased the farm that they would make their home. JoAnn quit working at the elementary school in 1975 to work on their farm full time. Until 2000 she worked with Jim, helping him as they built their farm. She was the farm's bookkeeper and especially enjoyed helping to start the freshly weaned pigs as they came to the farm.
JoAnn was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March 2000 and was no longer able to continue to do the physical labor on the farm. She was still able to help during harvest operating the grain cart, and she continued to do the bookkeeping. In July 2015 she was diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer.
JoAnn served on several boards and helped Jim with his board responsibilities. JoAnn was an EMT on the Jasper Community Ambulance for 27 years and served as secretary and treasurer of the ambulance board. She served on the band board, chaperoned competitions and trips, and was responsible for the uniforms. She also worked to promote pork by helping at various pork events.
JoAnn loved flowers and enjoyed entertaining. Jim and JoAnn's farm served as a backdrop for many family and class reunions in addition to gatherings of family and friends. The Pipestone Vet Clinic often used their farm to host international visitors.
JoAnn is survived by her husband, Jim Veldkamp, Jasper; her daughter, Jennifer (Dean) Lerwick, Lyman, Nebraska; three grandchildren, Kate, Ella and Will; two sisters, Lois (Ervin) Hanssen, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Shirley Blasé, Madison, South Dakota; one brother, Wendell (Judy) Morrill, Bozeman, Montana; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law Verlyn Veldkamp and Dean Blase.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home of Pipestone, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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