Joyce Sanford

Joyce E. Sanford, 85 of Silver Bay, died Friday, June 16, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth.

She was born April 2, 1932 to Walter and Alma Bjorklund in Cambridge Minnesota.  She attended schools in Cambridge and graduated from high school there.  After high school, she worked at the bank in Cambridge and later moved to Minneapolis to work for an accounting firm.  She met and married Earle West and moved to Beaver Bay, MN to live and work at their mink ranch until his death.  She gained a step daughter with this marriage, Margaret “Muggsy”.  In 1966, she married Keith Sanford and later that year they had a daughter, Karen.  The following year they moved into Silver Bay.

Joyce was active in the community and her church.  She was a long-time bridge player, active for many years in the girl scouts and belonged to the garden club.  She was active with her class reunions and retained many dear friends from her school days.  The United Protestant Church was her church family.  She served on many committees, taught Sunday school and was previously on the diaconate.  She was also a “church basement lady”, working the kitchen for many events over the years.  Special thanks go to Pastor Paul Scaringi for his loving and prayerful support.

Joyce had worked at the Split Rock Trading Post, Dianna’s floral and through the ownership changes that followed and finally the Dilly Dally thrift shop.  She loved working there and meeting and helping people.

Joyce had an artistic soul, taking many classes.  She tried her hand at wood carving, painting, floral arrangement, quilting and cake decorating.  She made cakes for all occasions and did many wedding cakes.  She even tackled furniture upholstery.

Joyce was thoughtful, taking time to remember people with hand written cards and letters.  She had a knack for making people feel special.  Many times, Joyce looked in the mirror and wondered what happened because she didn’t feel or act like she was 85.  She was a resilient, positive woman who will be dearly missed by her family, friends and coworkers.  Her can-do spirit lives on in the good works she performed.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Jean Ericson and Dorothy Bobbitt, brother Wendell “Swen” Bjorklund, Keith Sanford and Earle West.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Cooper (Dan Bzdok), step daughter Margaret West Hanson (Lee), grandchildren Sam Cooper, Miranda Cooper, Joshua Swor (Ana), Tyler Swor (Michelle), great grandchildren Carter and Kelsey Swor and many nieces and nephews.

Joyce’s celebration of life will be July 22, 2017 at the United Protestant Church in Silver Bay at 11:00am with burial following.  Memorials preferred to the United Protestant Church.