Joyce Arlene (Christensen) Carlson

Joyce Arlene Christensen Carlson of Idaho Falls, Idaho, left her earthly body to join our sweet dad, Bertil “Bart” G. Carlson, on August 1, 2023.

Joyce was born September 8, 1938, in Rexburg, Idaho, to Boyd Madsen Christensen and Lucille Frances Zink Christensen. She spent her first five years in the Teton Basin area. Later, her family moved to Parker, Idaho. Her two-year-old baby sister, Judith Charlene Christensen, drowned while at her grandmother’s, and almost two years later, her father passed away. Years later, her mother remarried, and they moved to Ashton where she attended schools there and graduated from North Fremont High. 

During her high school years, she worked at the Ashton movie theatre. In the summers, she worked for Fall River Electric in Ashton, and then the first of the year after she graduated, she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she graduated from the LDS Business College. Upon returning home, she was hired by Phillips Petroleum Company. She worked at their office in Idaho Falls for about three years in personnel and security, then transferred to their location at their security office at the INL site, then later transferred to industrial relations. 

While at security, she met her husband, Bart, who had recently moved from New York to work for Phillips Petroleum Company. It was love at first sight, and they were married a year later on February 17, 1961, in Ashton, and made their home in Idaho Falls.

Early in their marriage, they built their dream home out in the country on an acreage where they could have horses and all the animals their kids could enjoy. Joyce's first love was her wonderful husband and their four adored children, and later the many grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family took many trips from one coast to the other. They took many enjoyable trips to the mountains in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The two of them took many cruises, and one of the most enjoyable they had was their cruise to Spain, and another special one around the Hawaiian Islands, and their many trips to the Mexican resorts in the winter. When they were home, they enjoyed many fun camping trips and scrapbooking. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and enjoyed every minute with them. 

Survivors include her four children, Nikki Marcovitz of Idaho Falls; Valerie Smith (Tom) of Meridian, Idaho; Stuart Carlson (Hiroko) of Santan, Arizona; and Heidi Harris (Myron) of Roberts, Idaho. She also leaves behind all of her adorable grandchildren and great grandchildren whom she loved very much. Siblings, Thomas Murri (Nancy) of Meridian, Idaho; Gary Christensen (Judy) of St. George, Utah; and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her wonderful husband, Bart; her father, Boyd Christensen; mother, Lucille Murri; stepfather, Elvin Murri; two sisters, Judith Christensen and Joan Larson; and her step-brothers, Lorin and Brent Murri. 

A family memorial will be held at a later time to celebrate Mom's wonderful life.