Joy Kjeldgaard, 79, passed away Monday, April 27, 2020, at the Colorado Plains Medical Center in Fort Morgan of pneumonia.  She was born December 17, 1940, in Brush to Bill & Alice (Ludwig) Lowry.

She attended schools in Brush and graduated in 1958.  In 1959, Joy married Duane Kjeldgaard.  They later divorced.

Joy grew up riding horses.  She began trick riding while in junior high school.  Her Father was a world champion steer wrestler, so she was on the rodeo trail.  In 1956, Joy was selected as the first Brush Rodeo Queen.

Joy & Duane settled on a ranch near Otis, where she raised 4 children and animals of all kinds, from deer to alligators.  Anybody was welcome to her kitchen table where she cooked for family, friends, and for many hired men.  She was active in the community teaching young girls baton lessons and cheerleading.  She was a loving friend to everyone she met.

Joy was employed with Belle Bonfils as a phlebotomist in northeast Colorado, up until the time she was involved in an automobile accident in 1998.  She loved her job, making numerous friends wherever she went.

Survivors include her 2 sons, Ty (Stacey) Kjeldgaard of Greeley and Eric Kjeldgaard of Grand Junction; her grandchildren, Mika (Hardy) Tozer, ClayCee, Kaven, Keslyn, Tambre, Courtney, Kyle and great granddaughter, Rossi Tozer.  She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kindra, son Dean, sister Peggy Grove, and her parents.