Joyce Frank

A funeral service for Joyce Elaine Frank was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 11, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating. Music was provided by Melanie Hannahs on organ with Kelly Frank as soloist. Linda Purvis and Jeannette Frank were in charge of registration, and Julie Greer and Peggy Cassidy were flower attendants. Urn Bearers were Tamera Bjerke, Matthew Frank, David Frank, Jonathon Frank, and Nathan Bjerke. Inurnment was at the IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Joyce Elaine Frank was born on November 9, 1940, the eighth of nine children, to James and Gertrude (Lorenzen) Tlustos. She attended Hillside Country School, south of Dallas, SD, through the eighth grade, and graduated from Gregory High School in 1958. She subsequently attended Sacred Heart College for Nursing in Yankton, SD, graduating in 1961. Joyce worked as a registered nurse at the Winner Hospital and a doctor’s office in Winner and Gregory.

While in college, she met the love of her life, Donald Frank, at a dance in Colome. They were married on December 26, 1961, at the Methodist Church in Gregory.

To this union four children were born: Tamera, Matthew, David, and Jonathon. In 1966, Don and Joyce moved to Gregory where they purchased the Locke Pharmacy and operated as Frank Rexall Drug for 34 years. Joyce worked alongside her husband in the store and spent a ton of energy caring for all the boys and their friends who spent many nights and days playing cards and staying out of trouble. Joyce was active in attending all the children’s sports events and organizing and running the concession stands at the Little League baseball games. In addition, she spent countless hours with the Girl Scouts and Brownies while Tamera was a member.

She enjoyed the annual 4th of July parade, judging the floats, spending time watching the parade with her grandson, Nathan, and as a parade marshal with her husband Don. One of her passions was sewing and quilting, producing numerous quilts and blankets for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Additionally, she found great joy making soups and as a youth group leader and Sunday school teacher at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory.

Following retirement, Joyce and Don traveled extensively with her sister and sister’s husband, Midge and Larry Wolf. Their escapades took them to see all 50 states and cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, and Panama Canal. She spent time traveling to see her children even if they were living on the coast of the U.S. Her retirement years also included spending time playing bridge with family and friends and gardening with Don and her son, Matthew. Joyce will be remembered for her enduring dedication to her children, children’s friends, and the community.

Joyce Elaine (Tlustos) Frank, age 84, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully amongst family and friends on July 6, 2025, at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents James and Gertrude Tlustos, her brothers George and wife Lillian Tlustos, Robert (Bob) Tlustos, Jack and his wife Lavonne Tlustos, and Terry Tlustos, and her sister Marie and her husband Bud Gassen, and brothers-in-law Stanley Chocholousek, Larry Wolf, Bill Frank, Larry Frank, Mike Dacy, Randy Dewolf, Emery Bailey, Dennis Berg, and sister-in-law Beverly Sudbeck.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband Donald of Gregory, children Tamera of Lakeville, Minnesota, Matthew and special friend Sarah of Gregory, David and wife Tiffaney, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Jonathon and special friend Mandy, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and her grandson Nathan and his fiancé Anisa, of Minneapolis. She is also survived by her sisters Elma Chocholousek of Gregory and Midge Wolf of Springdale, Arkansas, her brother and his wife Les and Myra Tlustos of Casa Grande, Arizona, her sister-in-law and husband Karen and Ray Heiser, and sisters-in-law Jan Tlustos of Lincoln, Nebraska, Joann Berg of Sioux Falls, Linda Dewolf of Burke, Norma Tlustos of Florida, and Diane Dacy of Sioux Falls, and numerous nieces and nephews.