Joan Woodbury

Joan Woodbury, 77, Carson, passed away January 11, 2026, in Carson.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM Mountain Time on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Grant County Fair Building in Carson with Suzy Pfliiger as celebrant. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.

Joan Irene Gappert was born September 23, 1948, in Mandan, to Gordon and Eleanor (Hoffman) Gappert. She grew up on the family farm near New Salem, later moving to a farm on the Heart River north of Carson. She was baptized and confirmed at Peace United Church of Christ in New Salem, ND.

Joan attended country school through the 8th grade. She continued her education at Carson High School, participating in cheerleading and softball. She was elected FFA Sweetheart her senior year. Joan was also very active in rodeo, crowned Mandan Rodeo Princess. She traveled to Wetumka, OK in 1966, to compete in barrel racing and pole bending at the National High School Finals Rodeo. She made the trip in a Mercury car pulling a two-horse trailer with her bay mare, Fancy Pants, that she had raised and trained.

In the fall of 1967, two bucket calves were sold by Lloyd Woodbury to purchase an engagement ring for his future wife. Joan and Lloyd were married on September 25, 1967, in Flasher. To this union, three children were born, Jessie Joan, Nicole Joy, and William Waldo “Walt”.

Early years consisted of raising cattle, milking cows, farming, tending to irrigation, and the day-to-day life of being a ranch wife and mother. Joan enjoyed living on the Heart River and all it had to offer. In 1980, Joan and Lloyd moved the operation to Morristown, SD, where she continued to raise her family. In 1997, she and Lloyd took off on an adventure, purchasing apple orchards in Oroville, WA. They raised apples for several years with her brother, Jim, and other family members and friends, before returning to South Dakota. In 2019 and 2020, they purchased ranches in Fall River County near Smithwick, SD. After retiring, they made their home in Carson.

Joan was a faithful and hardworking wife, mother, and grandmother to her 10 grandchildren and great grandson. She loved the farm, the animals, and all the hard work that this life demanded. She desired no other life than the one she made. She loved her quiet time in the barn feeding her barn cats and tending to a chilled calf. Her favorite was her horses, a love she shared with her dad. Some of her favorite horses being Topsy, Twinkle, Fancy Pants, Jim, and Patty. She taught her strong work ethic to her children, never being one to shy from a task. Joan spent many hours fixing fence and tending to the cattle. Joan was a dedicated Christian, and she looked to God for strength and guidance when life offered her challenges. She knew the love of Jesus and the promise of her heavenly home. A wonderful and precious wife, mother, and grandmother, Joan will be missed by all who shared in her life.

Joan will be forever in the hearts of her husband of 58 years, Lloyd; her daughters, Jessie Joan (Monte) VanLishout, Lemmon, SD and Nicole Joy (Chris) Glines, Smithwick, SD; her son, Walt (Stephanie) Woodbury, Casper WY; grandchildren, Hailey Joan (Brad) Hunter, Gillette, WY; Heidi (Travis) VanLishout, Lander, WY; Will VanLishout, Keldron, SD; Levi, Garrett, and Gabe Glines, Smithwick, SD; Preston, Tyson, Justin and Austin Woodbury, Casper, WY; great grandson, Kolson Hunter, Gillette, WY; sisters, Bonnie (Derald) Johnson, Fairbanks, AK and Joy (Larry) Hirsbrunner, Clarkston, WA; brothers, Jim (Karen) Gappert, Fairbanks, AK and Roy (Becky) Gappert, Olympia, WA; brothers-in-law, Loren (Sandy) Woodbury, Carson, ND and Russell (Colette) Woodbury, Carson, ND; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, and cousins also feel her loss.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Eleanor and Gordon Gappert; mother and father-in-law, Dorothy and Bill Woodbury; brother, Gerald Gappert; sister-in-law, Chick Koenig; brother-in-law, Mark Koenig; nephew, Matthew Koenig; and niece, Hope Woodbury.