Joyce Lynn Roberts

Joyce Lynn (Johnson) Roberts of Boise, formerly of Hailey and Hagerman, died in Boise on October 12, 2025, of complications of Alzheimer's. Joyce was born in Burley, Idaho on October 1,1948 to Grant and Nellie (Baker) Johnson. Growing up with two brothers and several male cousins, she was somewhat of a tomboy. However, it was in high school that she found her true calling: the Future Homemakers of America (FHA). At the FHA state convention in Boise, she was elected to a National FHA position. On a windy July morning, this 17-year-old boarded a passenger train in Minidoka that took her on a sightseeing trip to New York City, Washington D.C. and other eastern sites. At the culmination of this trip, she presented her speech to over 2000 FHA students in Philadelphia. In later years, she recalled the racial injustice she saw in the big cities.

Joyce graduated from Burley High in 1966 with a scholarship from Idaho State University to study home economics. Her plans were, however, permanently altered when she met a skinny bowlegged kid, Gale Roberts, at the Rupert 4th horse races. She did attend one semester at ISU but as her love for Gale grew she realized that she needed to help Gale complete his B.S. degree in range management at ISU, so Joyce enrolled in the 9-month accelerated bookkeeping course at the Twin Falls Business College. She graduated 9 months later, and she and Gale married in the Burley First Christian Church, on November 25, 1967. She then returned to Pocatello and worked while Gale completed his degree. That summer was a dream summer for them. They spent that time in the upper Little Wood River drainage in Blaine County while Gale did grazing studies for the Forest Service. Joyce had never ridden a horse before; however, riding one of Roberts' horses they spent the weekdays in a tent and weekends at the Garfield Guard Station.

It was then back to Pocatello where Gale graduated, then to Aberdeen, Idaho where Gale started his 33-year career with the USDA Soil Conservation Service. Then it was to Burley where their first son, Steve, was born. Their next move was to Grand View, Idaho where their daughter, Amy, joined the family, then back to Pocatello with the SCS. In 1977, they were transferred to Hailey where Joyce spent 23 years and their second son, Mike, was born. In Hailey she assisted the Wood River Lions club with projects such as the Winter Blind Camp, Run for Sight and the 4th rodeo hotdog booth. When Lions International voted to allow women, she was the Wood River Lions first female president. Weekends were spent camping or playing pinochle with family and friends or hiking to mountain lakes and flyfishing. After the kids were all in school Joyce put her bookkeeping training to work, first as part time bookkeeper for Miley Insurance (later Wood River Insurance). She worked her way up to vice-president and brought the agency into the “computer age”. Joyce was a great cook, sometimes preparing holiday meals for up to 23 family members.

In the fall of 1999, she retired, and they bought a 3 acres lava rock lot in Hagerman. They planted a huge garden, over 500 trees and turned the lot into a park-like setting. They also designed and had constructed their dream home. Joyce delivered “meals on wheels” and always helped the senior center with fund raising breakfasts. It was in Hagerman, however, that she discovered her hidden talent, gourd art. Using gourds that she grew in Hagerman's long climate, she added natural material such as deer antlers, moss, pebbles etc. to create gourds that she gave to friends or sold in an art gallery in Bozeman, Montana. She entered one of her gourds in the art section at the Gooding County fair and was awarded Grand Champion exhibit. Joyce also volunteered at the Gooding Helping Heart and Hands food bank for five years.

In 2015 she moved to Boise and start again planting a beautiful yard. Joyce is survived by her husband, Gale, of 58 years; son, Dr. Steve (Anna) Roberts of Bozeman, MT; daughter, Amy Roberts and son, Mike Roberts of Boise; six grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers: Mark and Rod. Joyce requested no funeral but instead a celebration of life that will be held next summer. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joyce’s name can be made to your local food bank or the Idaho Food Bank; online or mailed to 3630 E Commercial Way Meridian, ID 83642.  Remembrances may be left for the family at www.AccentFuneral.com.