Joyce H. Mericle, 98, of Wells died Friday, March 21, 2014, at Parkview Care Center in Wells. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Wells. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. The Rev.Paul Woolverton will officiate, and interment will be in Dunbar Memorial Cemetery, Minnesota Lake Township. Please see www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.

Joyce H. Mericle was born on April 20, 1915, in Boise, Idaho, the daughter of Roy and Mabel (Howard) Hedges. At the age of 9, she moved to Los Angeles, Calif. She met the love of her life, Clifford C. Mericle, and on March 31, 1935, they were united in marriage in Long Beach, Calif. The couple made their home near Wells, where they spent their life farming. After retiring from farming, the couple moved to Rochester and lived there for 10 years, returning to Wells in 1996. Joyce enjoyed Scrabble games with friends and family up to the time of her death. She loved reading and treasured visits from family and friends.

She is survived by her daughters Eileen Hankerson of Wells and Marilyn Rauenhorst of Wells; six grandchildren, Doug (Sarah) Hankerson of Wells, Darrel (Cindy) Hankerson of Auburn, Ala., Dan (Lynette) Hankerson of Black Hawk, S.D., Bill (Deb) Pieper of Horace, N.D., Kristin (Greg) Fischer of Hillsboro, Ore., and Stacy (Philip) Gardner of Rigby, Ind.; great-grandchildren Brett Hankerson of Halle, Germany, Jay Hankerson of Charlotte, N.C., Heidi (Nate) Baysinger of San Diego, Calif., James, Allison, Karalyn and Andrew Pieper of Horace, Jayce Gardner of Rigby, Idaho; five step-grandchildren; 11 step-great-grandchildren; seven step-great-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews and their families.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Clifford, son, Douglas, infant son, Roscoe, sons-in-law James Pieper and Donald Rauenhorst, brother-in-law Dr. Robert (Olga) Mericle and sister-in-law Phyllis (Keith) Lovrien.