A visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 24, 2006, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea. Funeral Services for Joan Arlene Hills Kaphers will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m. The committal service will take place on Monday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. at the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Joan passed on to her eternal home on Nov. 20, 2006, at Albert Lea Medical Center. She was 67 years old.

Joan was born in Albert Lea on Feb. 17, 1939, the daughter of Robert and Edythe Hills who owned and operated the Hills Steak House. She was a 1957 graduate of Albert Lea High School. Joan also attended Albert Lea Technical College and Mankato State University where she graduated with a degree in English and the Humanities. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Joan was baptized at First Lutheran in Albert Lea. The Hills family was a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church where Joan was confirmed on Oct. 13, 1954. Joan was a choir and Luther League member. She also taught bible and Sunday school at Grace and Salem Lutheran Churches.

Joan married Dale Johnson and they lived at Great Lakes Naval Base in Kansas City and at Camp Pendleton in California. Joan and Dale had two sons, Scott and Rhett Johnson. They were later divorced.

In 1972 Joan married Jerry Kaphers and they had one son, Thomas Kaphers.

Joan was in personnel for Weyerhauser Company, Secretary at Salem Lutheran Church, in banking at Security State Bank in Ellendale, and in sales with Pankow in the Twin Cities. She was active in the DFL party in Edina and Albert Lea. Joan was a member of the League of Women Voters. She enjoyed traveling, history, literature, politics, music, baseball, flower gardening, as well as cooking and entertaining family and friends. She loved her family, friends, her home, her country, and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Joan is survived by her significant other, Jerry Kaphers; three sons, Scott (Rebecca) Johnson of Kennesaw, Ga., Rhett Johnson of Albert Lea, and Thomas (Angela) Kaphers of New Hope; three granddaughters, Sarah, Christine, and Kelsey of Kennesaw, Ga., whom she dearly loved; two sisters, Mary Lou Rowe of Palm Desert, Calif., and Virginia Hills of Albert Lea; her dear friends, Judy Kelling and Dolly Johnson; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Edythe (Nelson) Hills; her sister, Jane Hegleland; and a sister in infancy.

Joan is deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all.