Joyce Graves

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Obituary

Joyce Graves, 75, of Sturgis, SD, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Spearfish Canyon Healthcare Center due to complications of Alzheimer’s Disease in Spearfish, SD. Memorial services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, August 29, at Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, SD. Burial at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Ethan, SD. Visitation will be one hour prior to the memorial service.

Joyce Ann (Bowar) Graves is a sweet, beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and daughter. She was born on April 18, 1951, the oldest of twins, to Joseph and Doris (Pueppke) Bowar in Mitchell, SD. She attended Holy Family and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1969. She then attended Sioux Valley Nursing School in Sioux Falls, SD, and upon graduation received her 3-year Diploma of Nursing in May 1972. Soon after graduation, she passed her state nursing boards and became a registered nurse. Joyce spent her life in the service of others, working as an RN for 45 years, 33 years at the VA Healthcare System at Ft Meade, retiring in 2017. Joyce was a meticulous and hardworking nurse, known to rearrange and organize things “just so” and was beloved by all of her co-workers through the years for her kindness and supportive nature.

In 1973, Joyce married Paul Kiepke. From this union came 2 children, Jennifer Nicole and Mark Joseph.  She later married the love of her life, Jon Graves, on June 28, 1986, in a beautiful ceremony at Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City. In June 1987, Molly Jo was born. Joyce’s greatest joy was her children and family. She rarely missed a game or performance, sacrificing many hours of sleep attending events for her kids before her evening or night shifts. The house was to stay very quiet during the day, though rarely did a week go by where one kid or another had something that just couldn’t wait until mom woke up. She’d sigh and say “I’m sleeping,” but listen patiently and go right back to bed. Joyce also enjoyed traveling across the state to visit her parents and twin sister, Joanne. Many hours were spent driving east on I90 to spend the weekends shopping, cooking, and playing cards with her siblings and parents. In her later years, Joyce enjoyed spending time with Jon, reading, water aerobics, and traveling to see her children and grandchildren. She was the best grandma, sharing her sweet tooth with her ‘kiddos’ and always had chocolate chip cookies in tow.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Jon Graves; children, Jen (Jason) Keszler, Mark (Becky) Kiepke, and Molly (Kelsey) Moulton; grandchildren, Sloane, Grace, Ryne, Jocelyn, and Rawley; twin sister, Joanne Ernster; brothers, Gary Bowar and Joe (Susan) Bowar, along with many nieces and nephews.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Doris Bowar; father-in-law, Charles Graves; mother-in-law, Irma Graves; brother, Paul Bowar, and sister-in-law, Jan Bowar.

In lieu of flowers, Joyce’s family asks all who loved her to hug your loved ones, tell them you love them, make the phone call, book the trip, serve others, surround yourself with the things that make you happy, and find joy in the simple things, every day, even the hard ones. Joyce lived a beautiful, simple, purposeful life, making all who knew her feel loved, cared for, and special.

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