Joan L. Thiel, 91, of Litchfield passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Bethany Assisted Living in Litchfield. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April, 5 2025, at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral and Cremation. A visitation will be held at 12 p.m. until the 1 p.m. service. Interment will be held at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis.
 Joan Louise Thiel, the daughter of Louie and Viola (Burns) Erickson, was born on March 10, 1934, in Waubay, S.D., and after graduating high school ventured to Minneapolis to seek employment. In 1955 she married LeRoy Thiel, also of South Dakota, and they made their home in Minneapolis until LeRoy passed away in 1997. Joan stayed living in Minneapolis until she retired from Target in 2003 after 12 years of service, at which time she moved to Litchfield. Joan enjoyed fishing, cooking, going to garage sales, planting flowers, raising pets, playing cards and playing bingo. She also enjoyed going back home to Waubay on the 4th of July and on many other days for big family gatherings. She enjoyed watching her grandson, Joe, play baseball along with watching her great-grandchildren play in many different sports. She was a caregiver to many people over the years and loved listening to Johnny Cash and George Jones.
 Joan is survived by her daughter Deborah Leary of Litchfield; grandson Joe (Amanda) Thiel of Litchfield; great-grandchildren Hunter, Gavin and Autumn Thiel; brothers Bill (Debbie) Erickson of Watertown, S.D., Larry (Lisa) Erickson of Watertown and James (Eileen) Erickson of Farmington; and sisters Joyce Moss of Bristol, S.D., and Glenda Wika of Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.
 Joan is preceded in death by her husband Leroy Thiel; son Scott Thiel; parents Lois and Viola; brothers Leo and Don; and sisters Gloria Stanley and Linda Erickson.
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