Joyce Dell Menter

On Saturday, November 15, 2025, heaven welcomed Joyce Dell Menter, our beloved mother and grandmother, as her husband of 55 years, George William “Bill” Menter, gave her a ride through the Pearly Gates. Joyce and Bill were married on March 21, 1949, in Santa Barbara, California, beginning a lifetime filled with devotion, laughter, and adventure. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 11 a.m., Joyce was laid to rest beside him at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo, Washington. Joyce was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Dempsey and Lois Magee. She was the fifth of six children: John, Daniel, Doris, Bonnie, and her baby sister and lifelong best friend, Dymple (Lois). She was preceded in death by her husband, the love of her life, George William “Bill” Menter; sons Joel William Menter and Robert C. Walton; granddaughter Charlianna Rose Caw; all of her siblings; and her parents.

She is survived by her children Sandra Lynn Todd (Gary), Sally Diane Walton, Doreen Rose Patranato, Laurie Anne Hatfield (Mark), and daughter-in-law Rebecca E. Menter; nine grandchildren; Michael Todd, Laura Mullins (Josh), Patrick Walton, Shawna Menter, Jennifer Fruchtel, Leslie Mahon, Joshua Hanshew, Mitchell Hatfield, and Chloe Hatfield; thirteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a special neighbor, Valerie. Joyce’s love for her children and grandchildren was deeper than anything else in the world, and she showed it. 

She enjoyed canning, gardening, hosting Holidays with the whole family, and sharing a good pot of greens, with beans and taters. She taught her granddaughters the fine art of bargain shopping, her grandsons to dig in the dirt, and all of her grandchildren knew there was candy in the chicken dish. Though Sandy suffered through the early years while our mom learned to cook, Joyce became the master of good home cooking. She will be remembered for her perfect fried chicken, cornbread, and of course her colorful Southern phrases like “that’s the best thing I ever flopped a lip over,” “bout as helpful as a bump on a log,” and “I’m full as a tick”. Joyce loved singing hymns around the piano while her husband played using only the black keys, followed by dancing the jitterbug in the living room. These were family traditions that brought laughter, music, and joy, especially during the holidays. She earned her driver’s license at 50 and never slowed down, “tearing up the highway” with the same energy she brought to life.

Joyce was a woman of action and service. She worked at the Naval Base NCO Club in Port Hueneme, California, supporting her husband as a devoted Navy and later Air Force wife; served as past president of the American Legion Auxiliary; and was a member of the Eastern Star in North Berwick, Maine. She and Bill pastored six churches and devoted several years to the Native American mission field. From 1996 to 2005, Joyce actively supported women’s ministries and served as a devoted Elder’s wife at New Life Fellowship in Raymond, Washington. She baked the bread for communion with such love that many joked they wished they could take seconds on the body of Christ. Joyce shared her warmth, faith, and humor with everyone she met, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives. They lived in many places, California, Maine, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon, and finally Washington, first in Shelton and then in Raymond, Joyce, and Bill spread their love, faith, and warmth. In every home they created, there was an abundance of joy and the spirit of family. After her husband passed, Joyce moved to Aberdeen, Washington, where she spent her remaining years surrounded by family and friends. 

In the early 1970s, Joyce and Bill were pioneers in the field of substance abuse recovery, welcoming over 300 teens and young adults into their home, called Sunnapee Farm. There, she helped guide them toward freedom from addiction and the knowledge of God’s love. Joyce made daily panfuls of cinnamon rolls and loaves of bread, feeding not just her family, but a houseful of “hippies” and anyone who happened to drop by. Her home was filled with the comforting smell of yeast and cinnamon, a tangible reminder that, for Joyce, a lot of food was a lot of love. She often recalled 266 souls brought to the Lord, but anyone who knew Joyce knows that number was just a drop in the bucket. Joyce Dell Menter had a deep love for people, especially those who were marginalized or overlooked. She lived the Word. She might have said someone was “madder than a wet hen” or “scarce as hen’s teeth,” but behind those words was her heart full of Jesus’ love. 

Joyce lived a life full of laughter, music, and dance. She loved her Lord, her family, and many others who were lucky enough to know her. She had a servant’s heart for her family, church, country, and her community. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. We will miss her deeply, as she is fondly remembered and forever loved. In lieu of flowers, in memoriam, you can donate to the Sunnapee-Menter’s Scholarship fund benefiting local high school students. C / O 1506 W Seventh Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520.