Joanne M. Staples

Funeral Services for Joanne M. Staples of Morris formerly of Chokio, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Chokio with Abby Weick officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7pm Wednesday, October 29th at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris with a time of sharing at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at church one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Interment will be in Summit Cemetery in Morris.

Joanne Mae Christensen was born on May 15, 1933, at home north of Chokio, the youngest child of Chris and Hanna (Wilson) Christensen.

Joanne grew up on the farm north of Chokio and attended District 43 country school until attending 9th -12th grade at West Central Ag School in Morris.

Joanne married Howard Staples on February 17, 1952 in Chokio and made their home on a farm south of Alberta, Minnesota. They had three children, Marie, Leslie and Harlan.

Joanne enjoyed baking, sewing, gardening and most of all her family. She was always willing to help on the farm and was often seen hitting fly balls to her children.

Joanne died on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at West Wind Village in Morris. She was 92 years old.

She is survived by her children, Marie (Mark) Bonebrake of Minot, ND and Harlan (Darla) Staples of Herman, MN; grandchildren, Austin (Roxanne) Van Zomeren of Bismark, ND, Brooke Van Zomeren of Minot, ND, David (Kayla) Staples of Harwood, ND, Mark (Natasha) Staples of Baxter, MN, Sophie Staples of Fargo, ND, Brandon (Jill Winther) Staples of Herman, MN, and Brad (Alecia) Staples of Kensington, MN; great-grandchildren, Skylar, Anika, and Hadley Van Zomeren, Evalynn and Dax Staples, Ace and Ava Staples and Leah and Alex Winther; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Stanley Staples and MaryJean Krei.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; son, Leslie; parents, Chris and Hanna Christensen; Howard’s parents, Leon and Mary Staples; siblings and their spouses, Lucille (Earl) Melberg, Frances (Earl) Wernsing, Doris (Vic) Zimmerman and Glenn (Vonnie) Christensen; brothers and sisters-in-law, Irene (Warren) Riley, Robert (Jeri) Staples, Janet Staples and Kathleen (Jim) Kelling and five nephews.

The Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of the arrangements for Joanne. To send condolences to the family, visit www.pedersenfh.com.