JoAnn L. Mercil

JoAnn (Joie) was born and raised in Sisseton, SD, April 5, 1935. Her parents, Walfred and Evelyn (Benson) Torvik and Joann and her younger sister, Ruth, lived on the family farm two miles from town for the first 4 years then moved to town where her parents owned the International Harvester dealership among other businesses later.

She graduated from Sisseton high school and furthered her education by enrolling in college for 2 years at St Olaf and transferred to the University of MN (Mpls) graduating with a BS Degree in Medical Technology (majoring in Chemistry, minor in Biology).  This is where she met her husband Charles Bennett (Ben) Mercil. They married July 28, 1956, while she worked at the U of M and Northwestern Hospital for about 4 years. These years they enjoyed visits from family and friends, to their tiny apartment, where they had so little, but enjoyed so much.

The moved to Duluth where they both worked at St Luke’s Hospital, she as a lab technician, and Ben completing his residency.  Ben and Joie then moved to Mahnomen July of 1961, where Ben established his medical practice. She continued her lab work, now at Mahnomen County Hospital and managed the financial records for Ben’s practice.

Joie was active in the Mahnomen community, belonging to the hospital auxiliary, a director of the Junior Volunteer Candy Stripers, a member of the Library Club where she was the chairwomen of the local and 9th district public affairs and free enterprise committee, a member of Mahnomen Unit of Cancer Society since it was formed in 1962 and was crusade chairwomen for eight years. She also donated her time as an instructor for the grade school special reading programs. The family belonged to the First Lutheran Church in Mahnomen where Joie taught Wednesday and Sunday school classes for sixth graders. She was a part of the prayer circle and vice president of the ALCW. Her hobbies included entertaining, cooking, hosting bridge, fishing, music and flying (she obtained her pilots license in early 1980’s out of Mahnomen County Municipal Airport).

During these years in Mahnomen, Ben and Joie raised four children. Her favorite memories of this time were holidays, annual camping and houseboat trips to Lake of the Woods, travels to Las Vegas, Aruba, Mexico and the Mediterranean, but most fondly, the family vacations in Hawaii.

In the fall of 1985, Ben and Joie moved his medical practice to Bertha, MN. While in Bertha, she earned her real estate license and was employed by Century 21, Wadena. After Ben’s passing in the summer of 1988, Joie relocated to Moorhead, MN to be closer to family. Her resilient nature lead her into the community where she re-engaged in her faith through the Trinity Lutheran Church and continued working in real estate with Kvamme Reality until she married Robert (Bob) Mercil, a widower himself, in 1998. They enjoyed travels to Alaska, Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but cherished their summers in Moorhead and winters in Fountain Hills, AZ.  In her later years she settled in Serenity Assisted Living Center in Dilworth, MN, where she found peace for the next nearly 8 years, quietly passing June 30th, 2026.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Walfred and Evelyn Torvick; her first husband, Ben Mercil; and her second husband, Bob Mercil.

She is survived by her sister, Ruth Friedman; her four children, Lynn (Dale) Konze, Chris (Heidi) Mercil, Vicky (Jay) Stenslie, Jason (Katra) Mercil; her grandchildren, Zachary Franks, Bennett Mercill, Mandy (Austin) Heins, Frannie (Phil) Johnson, Nicholas Stenslie, Evan (Baylee) Stenslie, Lauren Stenslie, and Aiden Mercil; and five great-grandchildren.

We welcome friends and family to join us for Joie’s Celebration of Life Service that will be held at the Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service in Moorhead, MN at 7 PM on Thursday, August 20th. There will be a Visitation preceding the service from 5-7 PM. Joie will be buried at a private family ceremony in Crookston, MN the following morning in the Mercil family plot, close to her loving husband, Ben, and other family that preceded her in death.