Joy Ellen Dirksen

Joy Ellen Dirksen, 93, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller, with Rev. Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bryant, SD.

Joy Ellen was born on March 23, 1933, in Naples, South Dakota, to Norman and Esther (Hageman) Harrison.  She attended school in Naples before moving to Bryant, South Dakota, in 1943.  She worked at Baumback’s Café for many years during school and graduated from Bryant with the class of 1951.

On January 23, 1952, she married Merle H. Dirksen.  They continued to live in Bryant until moving to Miller, South Dakota, in 1962.  She worked at the lunch counter in the bowling alley and as a bookkeeper for 18 years at Community Oil Company.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and WIBC for many years.  She enjoyed decorating her home for holidays, dancing, bowling for 60 years, playing cards, and bingo.

She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Weinzirl of Mandan, North Dakota; son, Jeff Dirksen of Huron; four grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; and two step grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Merle; and sister, Anna Jean.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Joy’s arrangements.