Joan Victoria Lyman

Joan Victoria Lyman passed away peacefully in her home on March 11, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born on September 24, 1940, in Mitchell, South Dakota to Gerhardt and Lucille Walz. She grew up in Armour, South Dakota and attended Armour High School. She was a cheerleader and earned the nickname “Frog Legs” for her acrobatics. During her summers, Joan worked with her best friend, Lois Lyman Linder (Lee’s twin sister) at the State Game Lodge. It was here in the Black Hills of South Dakota where she met the love of her life and future husband, Lee Lyman. She attended Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska. As an education and music major, she played the pipe organ, sang in the choir, and cheered on the Bulldogs. After college graduation, Joan was a Lutheran school teacher in Perry, Oklahoma and Corvallis, Oregon.

Lee and Joan were married in Armour, South Dakota on July 4,1964. They first lived in Hamilton, Montana. She obtained her pilots license and enjoyed flying their Cessna 182. From there, they moved to Sandpoint. Joan taught at Kootenai Elementary School. After teaching, Joan was the office manager at Kootenai Communications and Emerald Distributors working beside Lee until they retired.

Joan attended First Lutheran Church where she played the pipe organ and directed the children’s choir. Joan loved children especially her own (Ann, Timothy, and Jonathan), her grandchildren, and great grandchildren. But, most of all, she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Joan’s parents, brother Don Walz, sister’s Esther Walz and Yvonne Stephen precede her in death. Her husband, Lee; children, Ann (Paul) Kendo, Timothy (Trista) Lyman, and Jonathan (Amy) Lyman; grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her sister’s Tami McMullen and Gleni McQuade survive her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be addressed to Life Choices Pregnancy Center at info.lifechoicespc.org or Bonner County General Health Community Hospice.

A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at 1:00pm on April 1, 2023, at First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive Avenue, Sandpoint.