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Joyce Shelton
February 7, 1945 - October 23, 2026
A Funeral mass will take place on Monday, November 2, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior at St. John’s Catholic Church, Duluth, MN. Interment will immediately follow the mass at Calvary Cemetery. Reception will follow at St. John’s Church.
Joyce Carol Shelton, 81, of Duluth went peacefully with the Lord on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Solvay House with her husband by her side. She was born February 7, 1945 in Grand Rapids, MN to Frank and Mayme Peters. She attended Grand Rapids Public Schools, graduating in 1963. She married John Shelton on August 19, 1964 and remained married until her death in 2026. Together, they built their home and raised their two children in Rice Lake Township. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Parish. In high school, she was involved in 4H Club and Pep Club. After high school, she worked as a waitress in a Board of Trade coffee shop where she met John. She was an aide at the Duluth Clinic then was a stay at home mom for several years, returning to the workforce in 1977 where she worked at the College of St. Scholastica as a housekeeper. During this time, she obtained her BA in social work. She found her passion and worked as a chemical dependency counselor for the Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment and Miller Dwan for 24 years. Joyce loved being outdoors. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, mowing, camping and fishing. During her retirement years, she spent many summers in Voyageur’s National Park on their home-made houseboat. Joyce loved traveling, reading and attending the various activities that her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participated in and often stated how proud she was of them. Joyce battled multiple conditions, but despite her pain, she was very active and didn’t let that stop her from living her life. She was very thankful for the help she received during her time in hospice and for those who visited her. She will be deeply missed by her family & friends.
She is survived by her husband, John Shelton; son Brian (Peggy) Shelton; daughter Kelly Hovland; grandchildren Stephen (Jenna) Shelton and Nevada Shelton; great-grandchildren Eliza, Charlotte, Finn and Lorelei; sister Sharon Robertson, along with many nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Edward and John.