Joyce A. (Mahaney) Larson

Joyce Ann Larson, age 89, of Cambridge, MN passed away peacefully on August 5, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Joyce was born on July 31, 1936, in Ashtabula, Ohio to Willis and Violet (Everson) Mahaney. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota. She often reminisced about her wonderful childhood shared with her siblings and friends.  Swimming, horseback riding, ice skating and golfing were just a few of the activities they enjoyed.

After she graduated from high school, she attended Northern State in Aberdeen. In her first year there, she met the love of her life, George. They were married and started a family!  Joyce was as excited as George when they had the opportunity to move to Cambridge in 1958, where George would teach and coach football. There, they raised their three sons and daughter in a very loving home with so many fun things to do.... camping, fishing, birthday parties with Joyce’s special homemade cakes, road trips to grandparents and many sporting events.

Joyce attended all her children's activities and was their biggest fan. They included basketball, baseball, track, hockey, band, choir and of course, lots and lots of football!  Joyce would make her special Blue Jacket chili after George’s football games to the delight of the coaches and scouts.  She also enjoyed being a Cub Scout leader to her youngest son and his friends!

Her love of children led to a career in early childhood education. Joyce was a preschool teacher’s aide for almost 20 years in the Cambridge-Isanti school district. Her warm and nurturing spirit touched the children she worked with and even years later, her students would come up to her to share a joyful memory.

Joyce loved animals! She cherished all of her cats and dogs throughout her life and found great joy in putting out bird seed and peanuts for the squirrels and the wide variety of birds in her backyard.

Joyce’s greatest joy was her 11 grandchildren and 17 great- grandchildren!  She was so proud and treasured every moment she spent with them.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, George; her parents Violet and Willis; and her brother, Myrl Mahaney. She is survived by her children Ed Larson, Bill (Sandy) Larson, Lori (Steve) Morin, and Richard Larson; 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and her sister, Gloria Prager, other relatives and friends.

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