Joy Heath

Joy Jacynth Heath passed peacefully into the loving arms of her Savior on April 26, 2022, at Creighton, Nebraska at the age of 93. She was born August 11, 1928, in Omaha, Nebraska to Niels and Petra Katrina (Katherine) Quist. Joy lost her father at 6 years old and her mother at age 21. Her parents were Danish immigrants, and Joy was so proud of her father with his position as a royal guard to the Danish King. She would tell the story how her dad was just shy of the 6-foot-tall requirement and stretched his neck to just reach that height to be accepted. Joy’s mother was known as an excellent cook and set a beautiful table with her finest china.

At age 21, with the loss of her mother, Joy took her two youngest siblings, John and Marie, into her home and raised them until they were of age. She worked as a secretary for the Oliver Corporation and Duncan Hines Company. While at Duncan Hines, she was introduced to George Heath, a rancher from South Dakota. During their courtship, she would travel by train from Omaha to Eli, Nebraska for their weekend visits. As George was taking Joy to board the train at the Eli depot for the return trip to Omaha, unbeknownst to Joy, George had a plan. They were running late, and George just would not speed up as he was just to busy viewing the pastures along the way. As they arrived in Eli the train had just departed. George calmly told Joy that he would drive her to Omaha as he intended to marry her. They were joined in marriage June 5,1955. To this union a son, Brett, was born in 1959. A daughter, Dana, joined the family in 1962.

Joy was very loved by her family and was known as an avid gardener. She grew a large garden and so enjoyed canning to provide meals for her family. Following suit like her mother, Joy was an excellent cook and enjoyed setting a beautiful table with her finest china. At branding time, Joy showed her appreciation to the local neighbors by serving a hearty and delicious meal with a table set to impress with tablecloths and her finest china. Joy also drove the school bus for a number of years while her children attended the Tuthill School. Some of her other joys were reading, watching sports, and her passion for music, especially Opera. She loved her family immensely, the ranching life, and all that it held.

Joy is survived by her son, Brett Heath, and wife, Beverly of Martin, SD, daughter, Dana Kalblinger, and husband, Gary of Wood Lake, NE, grandchildren, Jeremiah Heath and wife, Kayla of Newell, SD, Anthony Heath, and wife, Lindsey of Tuthill, SD, Trenten Heath, and wife Erin, of Holdrege, NE, Wyatt Cuny of Guernsey, WY, Shaylon Ferris, and husband, Scott of O’Neill, NE, Heleyna Hoefs, and husband, Jordon of Vaughn, MT, 12 great grandchildren, sister, Marie Turner of Omaha, NE, and numerous nephews and nieces.

She is preceded in death by her husband, George, parents, Niels and Petra Katrina (Katherine) Quist, her brothers, Eyvind Quist, Norman Quist, John Quist and sister, June Melby, sisters-in-law, Harriet Quist, Lucy Quist, Marge Quist, Velma Bartholomew, Mary Heath, Anna Mary Heath, brothers-in-law, Van Melby, Hank Turner, Floyd Heath, Clyde Heath, Nile Heath, and Fremont Bartholomew.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 10:30 am at the Martin Community Cemetery.