Joyce Lynnette (Bakker) Swanson, age 89, of Renville, died Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Olivia Hospital. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church north of Renville. The Rev. Anna Williamson will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation for Joyce will be Friday from 5-7 p.m. and will continue on Saturday one hour prior to the services all at the church in Renville. Arrangements are with Dirks-Blem Funeral Services, Renville, MN.
Joyce Lynnette (Bakker) Swanson was born on March 18, 1937, in Renville, Minnesota to Harm and Grace (Raske) Decknatel. She grew up on the family farm north of Renville. She was baptized and professed her faith at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. She attended country school at District 142 and later graduated from Renville High School in 1955. After graduation, she attended Mankato State Teachers College. She became the Renville Public School Secretary. On June 6, 1958, she married Dick W. Bakker and they made their home on a farm north of Renville. They had four children. Joyce loved to sew and made many quilts over the years for her children and grandchildren. Starting with baby quilts, then as a surprise of who is getting a quilt from grandma each year at Christmas and special wedding quilts for each of the girls in the family. Joyce was active in her church, teaching Sunday School, member of the ladies group doing Bible studies, served as elder, sewing quilts for missions and church graduations. She was the church secretary for many years. She spent several years being the assistant activities director at the RenVilla and the activities director at the Olivia Nursing Home. After Dick passed away in 1990, she continued to be active in her various interests. A year later, she joined the Willmar Area Widow-Widowers Grief Support Group. She became the leader and was in charge of discussions and programs. It was at this group she met many wonderful people. Joyce loved music and sang in the church choir and other musical groups including the Bakker Quartet and Vesper Singers in the 1980’s. On August 14, 2011, she married Robert Swanson during the morning worship service at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Renville.
She is survived by her husband Robert, her children: Barton (and Amy) Bakker, Michelle (and Paul) Lalime, Jeff (and Sheri) Bakker, and Amy (and Michael) Kleine; her grandchildren: Evan (and Michaela) Bakker, Paul Lalime III, Renee (and Dante) Rudolph, Bradley Bakker, Rachel (and Brandon) Bratsch, Brittany Ousky, Joe Haugen, and Jillianne Kleine. Her step children: Bonnie (and Kevin) Braun, Peggy (and Gregg) Cunningham, Tim Swanson, and Rae (and Jarrod) Roufs; her step grandchildren: Phil (and Jenny) Braun, Nicole (and Jim) Sexton, Adam (and Amy) Braun, Em Cunningham, Sean (and Arianna Herrera) Cunningham, Chase Cunningham, Ava (and Tyler Beck) Roufs, Liam Roufs, Grayson Roufs, and Addison Roufs; 19 great grandchildren, her siblings: Barb (and Jim) Fokken, Judy Mellies, and Don (and Micky) Decknatel; her brothers-in-law Ed Turja and David (and Carol) Bakker.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick W. her sister Deanne Turja, her niece Mary Samuelson, her nephew Gregg Fokken, her sisters-in-law Wilma (and Dick) Beekman and Gladys (and Roger) Bertsch