Joan Elizabeth (Holman) Carruthers

Joan Elizabeth (Holman) Carruthers of Springfield, Minnesota, age 89, passed away at Arbor Springs Memory Care Center in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 12, 2024 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at the St. John Lutheran Church, Springfield, MN. The funeral ceremony will be held at the St. John Lutheran Church on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10:30 am. The clergy will be Chaplain Noel Wetter. Interment will be at the Springfield City Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield, Minnesota. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Joan was born on June 20, 1934 in Sisseton, South Dakota to Edwin and Eugenia (Stock) Holman. She grew up on the family farm where they raised cattle and small grain west of Sisseton in the Coteau des Prairie hills. She attended the same country school that her parents attended.

She graduated from Sisseton High School in 1953 and went on to graduate from South Dakota State University in 1957 with a major in Home Economics. She taught Home Economics at the Wilmot South Dakota Public School where she met her future husband, Robert Carruthers (who was the principal at the time) whom she was married to for 49 years.
Joan and Robert were married on August 2, 1958 at Hope Lutheran Church in rural Sisseton, South Dakota. They lived in Wilmot, South Dakota, Holloway, Alberta, Trimont, and Springfield, Minnesota where they moved to in 1969.

Joan enjoyed reading, baking, traveling, and time spent with family. She was involved in many church activities at St. John Lutheran Church like circle, quilting, and she taught Sunday School and bible school in the past. During her time in Springfield, she belonged to an extension club, women’s literary club, the library board and the St. John Lutheran home auxiliary. Her favorite travel destinations were Norway (she was very proud of this heritage and visited there twice), Scotland, England, Ireland, and took several bus trips in the US. She also really enjoyed attending the Norsk Hostfest that is held in Minot North Dakota. In their later years, she and Bob enjoyed spending time at their lake home in South Dakota. Joan spent 2 years living at the Maples prior to moving to Des Moines.

Joan is survived by her son David (Linda) of Springfield, her 2 granddaughters Emily (Jordan) Harlow of Urbandale, IA, and Katie Carruthers of West Des Moines, IA. Joan had 2 great grandchildren, Caleb and Hazel Harlow, 2 sisters-in-law Alice Carruthers of Chester, SD and Donna Tunge of Sioux Falls, SD, and several nieces and nephews. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, son Paul, and sister Geraldine Pfest.

Memorials can be given to St John Lutheran Home to be directed to the Riverhaven dementia unit.