Joyce Lee Town

Joyce (Lewis) Town, 91 years old, went to be with Jesus on April 10, 2025. 

Joyce was born in Ronan, Montana on March 22, 1934, and grew up on a farm with her 2 sisters where she learned the value of hard work and living frugally.  She attended school in Ronan for 12 years and then Canadian Bible College for 3.  She married Harvey Town, her high school sweetheart in 1955, after graduation.

She and Harvey began a 44 year ministry with the Christian and Missionary Alliance soon after marriage, beginning by taking a small church in Barrhead, AB, Canada for 2 years, then went to Japan as missionaries for 12 years where they planted 2 churches and were dorm parents to about 10 children of other missionaries as well as raising their own 4 (at that time).  They returned to the U.S. in 1969 with 4 children and had one more born 2 weeks after landing. For 1 year Harvey traveled as a missionary speaker while Joyce managed a newborn and 4 older children. They decided not to return to Japan and instead took an Alliance church in Great Falls, MT where they saw many blessings of the Lord over their 7 ½ years there. Their next move was to Edmonton, AB, Canada where Harvey pastored for 4 ½ years at Beulah Alliance. After this, they moved to Calgary where they lived for 8 ½ years as Harvey was the Western Canada District Superintendent.  They ended their C&MA ministry serving as District Superintendent in the Rocky Mountain District and living in Billings, MT for 9 years, leading and helping pastors and their wives.  This made for many long road trips visiting all the C&MA churches in North and South Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.

Joyce loved her role as a missionary and pastor’s wife and especially cared deeply for the young preacher’s wives and their children during their years as District Superintendent.  She enjoyed working at Christian Publications in Calgary for many years.  In her retirement years, she served her community by working with other women from her church in running the Country Store in Polson.  She was valued for her ministry with the Alliance women, for her servant heart in working in the nursery in several churches, and for loving all the families they had into their home for meals and overnight stays. She loved to bake and cook and truly had a beautiful gift of hospitality.  She ministered to many by her compassion and encouraged them with phone calls, letters, cards or invitations to their home. For decades she faithfully remembered the birthdays and anniversaries of all the people in her immediate family who at the end of her life numbered 76, as well as many friends. She also loved to garden and share her produce with friends.  Everyone around her knew her to be a loving, caring woman of God, known for her joyfulness and sharing Jesus’ love with all. She was truly a Proverbs 31 woman.

She was preceded in death by her sweetheart, Harvey, of 67 years, her parents, a niece Kim Denton, granddaughter Mary Town, numerous cousins. 

Survivors include her sisters, Betty Corum and Lynette Denton, 5 children, 26 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.

Joyce will be missed very much by those who knew and loved her.  Memorials can be sent to the             Great Commission Fund of the C&MA through Terrace Lake Community Church in Ronan, Montana. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held on April 19, 2025, at Terrace Lake Community Church at 11:00 a.m.