Joyce Burke Robertson was born on the seventeenth day of June 1932 to Oscar Burke and Lavetta Fugal, in their home four miles east of Shelley, Idaho. She finished primary and secondary school in Shelley and was known as a playful prankster. She continued her education at Ricks College, now BYU-Idaho, interrupted by two teaching positions, in Roberts, Idaho and in Monticello, Utah, then returning to finish her Bachelor\s of Science degree in Elementary Education.
Joyce was called on an LDS Mission to Norway where she served 26 months, mostly in the Mission office because of her excellent secretarial skills. During the winter of 1957-58, she met John B. Robertson, nephew to her mission president's wife. They were married and sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 2, 1958 and she followed him in a three-year tour with the US Army. She bore two children during this service, Auna-Lisa and Rynell. A third daughter, Larene, was born shortly after leaving military service followed by two boys, John-Michael and David-Jonathan Burke.
The growing family moved often, criss crossing the country from Washington to Arizona to Illinois; finally settling in Boise, Idaho for the past 40 years. Joyce established herself as a Medical Librarian in Boise working at Saint Alphonsus Regional Hospital and enjoyed volunteering with church and community organizations such as Boise Tuesday Musicale. After retirement, she became an ardent fan of Major League Baseball.
Deceased after prolonged illness, October 3, 2015, she is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters: Sherril Thompson and JoAnn Packer, and by her daughter, Rynell. She is survived by her husband, her two daughters and two sons, her sisters Linda Dalley, Irene Murdock and her brother, Roger O. Burke, 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, October 17, at 9:00 a.m., with the funeral service to follow at 10:00 a.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. A brief graveside service and interment will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Taylor Cemetery, four miles east of Shelley, Idaho.
