Joan Gaston, 87, Mitchell, formerly of Artesian, died Nov. 29, 2018, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Artesian. Burial will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian. Visitation was held Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell.

Joan was born in Huron on May 26, 1931, and was soon after adopted by Leon and Anna (Crawford) Rudy of Artesian. 

Joan married Royal “Bud” Gaston on March 3, 1951. They were blessed with four children, Linda Horner, of Hot Springs; Nita Kingsbury, of Williamsburg Va.; Peggy Konopka, of Woodstock Ill.; and Steve (Judy) Gaston, of Mitchell. They farmed north of Artesian until Bud’s death in 1976.

Joan then moved to Artesian and worked at Dethlef’s Flower Shop in Mitchell. In 1979, Joan moved to Denver, Colo., where she worked at The Denver Clothing Store for several years. She retired and moved back to Artesian in 1991, where she was involved in numerous organizations. She was very happy to be involved in the Senior Meals program for the community of Artesian. In 2015, she moved to Mitchell.

By chance, through DNA testing, Joan learned this year that she had a half-brother, Bob Pratt of Grants Pass, Ore., who had been searching for her for many years. They were able to meet and get to know each other when Bob visited her this summer.

Joan is survived by her four children; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Ardith Thompson, of Lincoln, Neb. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bud; and two sons-in-law, Gene Horner and Phil Konopka.