Joyce Beckstrom Simmons November 5, 1939 - May 30, 2024

1939 – 2024

Joyce Beckstrom Simmons passed away peacefully from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.  Joyce was born on November 5, 1939 as the oldest child of Fern Huntington and Jack Bradford Beckstrom, both of Spanish Fork, Utah. Her father died when she was only 5 years old and her brother Jim was three.  Her mother later remarried and four additional siblings were born to that union.

In her early life, Joyce attended school in Spanish Fork, Utah. She went to nursing school right after high school and became a nurse.  She worked at Spanish Fork hospital for a time, and later at Hales Rest Home in Spanish Fork.  She was always known as a hard worker and a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She served four missions for the Church, including Nauvoo, Illinois and Martin’s Cove in Wyoming. She also served for several years as a temple worker in both the Provo and the Payson LDS Temples.  Her hobbies included reading, crochet, and spending time camping in the canyon. She enjoyed the music of John Denver and her favorite color was pink.

When she was age 23, Joyce married Shirl A. Simmons, her lifelong friend.  They were married on  February 15, 1963 in Manti, Utah in the Manti LDS Temple.  They settled in Lake Shore, Utah, where they raised their family of one girl and seven boys.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Jack Beckstrom and Fern Huntington Beckstrom Warner,  her son, Brent S. Simmons, and one great-granddaughter, Grace Merrill.

 She leaves to survive her: her husband Shirl, her children: David R. Simmons, Janice (Terry) Groo, Norman S. (Jennifer) Simmons, Jerry L. (Amanda) Simmons, Ray Dean (Tiffany) Simmons, Rodney P. (Melissa) Simmons, and Brian W. (Julie) Simmons, her siblings: James E. Beckstrom, Earlene Drake, Morgan D. (Mary) Warner, Mark B. Warner, and Dean J. (Eileen) Warner.  She is also survived by 25 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Joyce’s family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Hearthstone Manor and Utah Home Health and Hospice in Spanish Fork for their dedicated care of Joyce.

A funeral service will be held on June 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Lake Shore Chapel, 5916 S 3200 W, Spanish Fork, Utah.  A visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. before the services.  Interment will be at Spanish Fork Cemetery in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Condolences to the family and memories of Joyce may be sent to joycebsimmons8@gmail.com to be compiled for her posterity.