Joy Phyllis Narum

Joy Ramlo Narum was born in 1929 and recently passed away on March 30th 2025. We are grateful that after years of battling rheumatoid arthritis she was peaceful and comfortable in her last days. She will be deeply missed. Joy was preceded in death by her loving husband Paul in 2003, an infant son, and a son, Mark John in 1982. She is survived by son David (Carol), granddaughters Ashley (Brandon) Preuss, Rebecca and Jessica, and her first great grandchild, Larkyn Ray Preuss. Joy and Paul lived most of their life and raised their family in Roseville, MN. They were long time active members of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in the Como Park area of St. Paul. Joy was a lifelong passionate elementary school teacher, having earned her degree in Education at the University of Minnesota. We will honor Joy's memory at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 1465 N. Victoria Ave in St. Paul on the morning of April 26th: Visitation at 10 AM will be followed by an 11:00 worship service and lunch. - A Biography of Joy (Phyllis) Ramlo Narum - Joy Phyllis Ramlo was born on August 28th, 1929 to Arthur and Marie (Larson) Ramlo. Joy spent her childhood growing up as an only child in the small town of Marshall in SW Minnesota. Of course, the stock market crashed in October of that year, triggering the "Great Depression", followed by the "Dust Bowl" years in the 1930's, followed by WW-II in the 1940's. Life was a struggle for everyone in those years; Joy's small family always had food on the table and a roof over their head, although they never owned a house or a car. Notes from Joy reflect on the fact that they had running water, but not hot water ... water was heated in a tea pot on the kerosene stove. She also wrote that her mother made all her clothes, and "Hobos" from the nearby railroad tracks would frequently knock on their door looking for a meal --- they were never turned away but were asked to sit on the doorstep while Joy's mother made them a sandwich. None-the-less, Joy always conveyed memories of a pleasant childhood. She spoke frequently of fond memories of her dog, of roller skating in the park, and of borrowing a car occasionally on the weekend to go visit her grandparents on the family farm near Hendricks, MN where her dad grew up. As the depression deepened and the USA entered WW-II, Joy's father was offered a job transfer to the town of Morris, MN. Joy was starting 8th grade at the time and ultimately graduated from Morris high school --- she spoke very fondly of her time in high school and her experience in Morris. Joy's parents apparently had always made it clear that Joy should pursue a college degree. In the fall of 1947, she headed off to the big city by herself and enrolled in the University of Minnesota. A guidance counselor, after getting to know Joy, suggested that her interests were well aligned with a career as an elementary school teacher. Joy took this advice to heart, and it became the launching point of one of her life passions. Somehow Joy graduated early with a degree in Elementary Education in March of 1951, and promptly got on a bus to Cloquet, MN to take a temporary teaching position for the balance of the school year. She later accepted a permanent position for the following year in Rochester, MN where she taught for nearly three years. She later taught for years in different roles in the Roseville school district just outside of St. Paul, MN --- her work as a teacher largely defined her identity for years to come. In February of 1949 Joy met a skinny but very good-looking blonde haired, blue-eyed man who would become the love of her life. Paul H. Narum was a 25 year-old senior finishing his chemical engineering degree after serving a Naval tour of duty in the Pacific during WW-II. They met at a fraternity sponsored Sunday afternoon "tea dance" attended by Joy's sorority. If it wasn't love at first sight, it must have been close. They were engaged when Paul got re-activated by the Navy and sent off to serve in the Korean war in January 1952. Paul was released in March of 1953; Paul and Joy were married on April 11th 1953. Joy's adult life and priorities were defined by her unwavering Christian faith, her devotion to family, and her passion for teaching. Tragically Paul & Joy prematurely lost two sons: Mark John (born in 1954, died in 1982) and a still-born son in 1956. Paul passed away in 2003. Joy is survived by a 3rd son, David Hart Narum and his wife Carol (Radermacher); three beloved granddaughters - Ashley (Brandon) Preuss, Rebecca Narum, Jessica Narum; and one (11 week-old) great grandson, Larkyn Ray Preuss.

Tributes

Joy Phyllis Narum

August 28, 1929 - March 30, 2025

Tributes

Joy Phyllis Narum

August 28, 1929 - March 30, 2025

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