Joan Laura (Green) Lix, was born June 14, 1940 in Rapid City SD as the second of seven children to Albert Welcome and Vivian Viola Green. During her early life her family lived in a couple homes in the Rapid City area - one near Rapid Creek and one south of town not far from the present day Walmart. She and her siblings played in the creeks, gullies and shale banks entertaining each other with sticks and their imaginations. Joan attended elementary school in a two-story schoolhouse just north of present day Annie Tallent and Rapid City High School. She worked several different jobs prior to her marriage.

She met Ray while he was an airman stationed at Ellsworth and she was a waitress at the Brass Rail in downtown Rapid City. They fell in love and married on October 22, 1967. Soon after, Ray was honorably discharged and went to work building aircraft for McDonnel Douglas in St. Louis. During the next 38 years they would make their home near Ray’s family in St. Charles MO. Ray promised Joan that when he retired they would move back to the Black Hills to be closer to Joan’s family. He kept that promise so in 2006 they built a home near Hermosa and moved back to SD.

Joan was a loving, doting mother; a faithful, caring wife, a great woman who loved and championed her family above everything including her own needs. Over these last few years she was blessed with helping to raise her grandson –Angel. She loved hiking, gardening, and birds – so much she thought she must have been one in a previous life. And she loved her dog Sparky who was with her to the end.

Joan was preceded in death by both of her parents and her father-in-law Roy Lee Lix. She will be deeply missed by those of us who must go on without her: Ray, her loving husband of 51 years; children Margaret (Margie) of Lake St. Louis MO, Tina (& Travis) of rural Hermosa and Scott (& Samantha) of St. Peters MO; her grandchildren: Angel and Madeline; sisters Janet Bryant (& David Gebhart) and Brenda (& Neal) Larson; brothers Albert Curtis (& Marsha) Green, Jim Green, Jerry (& Sheila) Green, John (& Kathy) Green all from the Black Hills area; mother in law Alpha Lix, sister in law Donna Steincipher and brother in law Gary (& Marti) Lix all of St. Peters MO; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joan and her dog Sparky of rural Hermosa died in a tragic automobile accident on the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2018, less than a half mile from her home. She leaves all of us richer for knowing and being blessed by her love. She will be deeply, deeply missed by all who knew her. Joan – may you get your wings and watch over your family till we are joined together again.