LUSK – Joy Evonne Ellingson Kaltenheuser, 91, passed away on November 29, 2024, in Rochester, Minnesota. A private burial will be held at the Lusk Cemetery on Saturday, December 7 with a reception to follow at the Congregational Church at 2 p.m. Memorials can be made to the Niobrara County Library Foundation, PO Box 510, Lusk, Wyoming, 82225.
Joy was born on September 23, 1933, in McCallsburg, Iowa to Lloyd and Clara (Helland) Ellington. She graduated from McCallsburg Schools as class salutatorian. She married Frank Kaltenheuser on May 18, 1951, in McCallsburg and the couple had four children: Greg, Craighton, Charmayne and Bradley.
Joy loved painting landscapes and rosemaling, quilting and reading in her spare time. She was a member of two different P.E.O. chapters in Wyoming and an avid church member. She sang for many funerals in the Lusk area.
Joy always helped on the farm in Iowa, driving tractors, pulling anhydrous ammonia tanks, plowing fields and always feeding the dozen plus hired men dinner and lunches in the afternoon. In Wyoming, Joy was always there either in a pickup or a four-wheeler when rounding up cattle, branding, vaccinating, feeding and checking windmills when the cows were on grass. Joy enjoyed making and teaching others how to make her Scandinavian favorites: kringla, kumla, lefse and krumkake as well. She will be deeply missed by her family and all of her friends.
Joy is survived by her three children and their partners and their children: Greg Kaltenheuser and partner Susan Lary of Iowa City, Iowa – Greg’s child Brooke Kaltenheuser of Bertha, Minnesota, Elizabeth (Craighton) Kaltenheuser of Casper – children – Travis (Calley) Kaltenheuser of Casper, Wyoming and Kate (Darek) Farmer of Gainesville, Florida, Charmayne Cochran of Rochester, MN – Shawn (Shawn Marie) Cochran of Dodge Center, Minnesota, Bradley (Nancy) Kaltenheuser of Ames, Iowa – Adam (Lynnette) Rasmussen of Gilbert, Arizona and Leigh Anne Kaltenheuser of Gilbert, Arizona. Joy is also surrived by great grandchildren – Brynja and Leighton Cochran, Drake and Craighton Farmer, Peyton and Harlan Kaltenheuser, Annika Gallegos, Kirsten, Lesia and Calissa Rasumussen and one great great grandchild, Aiyva Gallegos.
Joy was proceeded in death by an infant sister, Ione Dorothy Ellingson, her dad Lloyd Ellingson, mother Clara Helland Ellingson, son Craighton Kaltenheuser, sister Marge Ellingson Thompson, sister Clarine Ellingson Barker and her husband, Frank Kaltenheuser.
A celebration of life will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Roland, Iowa on Saturday, December 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
