Marie Joyce Kosters, age 73 of Selby passed away, Thursday, April 2, 2015 at her daughter's home in Watertown. Arrangements are pending with Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Mass of Christian Burial for Marie Joyce Kosters, 73, of Selby will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Selby with Father Thomas Clement officiating. Burial will follow at the Selby Memorial Gardens. Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7th and an hour before the funeral on Wednesday at the church. Liturgical wake service will be at 7 p.m. with fellowship and rosary following.
Joyce went to be with her Lord on Thursday, April 2nd, 2015 surrounded by her loving family at her daughter's home in Watertown after a courageous battle with cancer. Prairie Lakes Hospice was in assistance during her final days.
Marie Joyce Holder was born March 16, 1942 to Thomas and Anna (Byre) Holder on the family farm (the previous George Huff farm) in rural Selby, SD. On June 2, 1960, Joyce was united in marriage to Merle Martin Kosters at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Selby. She was a stay-at-home mom, daycare provider, and clerk at Stoick's Super-Valu during her early years of marriage. She and Merle leased Shorty's Truck Stop Café from 1976 to 1978. They then purchased the Berens Hotel, Café & Lounge in 1978 to present. They also co-owned the Selby Bowling Lanes with their daughter, Gwenn and son-in-law James Ackerman. Joyce worked hard to please each and every customer who walked through her doors at the Berens. She was an excellent cook and loved to serve others as was shown by her involvement in the community. For many years, Joyce and Merle, with the assistance of several other local businesses, sponsored a New Year's Appreciation Dinner. Patrons from a vast area would join in the event and stayed throughout the day to dance to the live music provided. It was also not uncommon to just stop in after a Selby Lions sporting event to be treated to complimentary hors d'oeuvres prepared by Joyce. Most people who had the pleasure of supporting the business throughout the years will never forget the mountain oyster, smelt, or chislic feeds which were held frequently and drew in large crowds. Oftentimes, it was standing room only. As her customers advanced in years, becoming residents of the Good Samaritan Center, Joyce would bring them a homemade treat to brighten their day.
Joyce enjoyed bowling with her dear friends and competing in annual state tournaments. Her team may not have always had the best results but they definitely had the most fun as was evidenced by the many stories in which she told. When her children were young, she and her husband would load the family into their trusty car to travel the countryside, most often heading south to visit family and friends in Kansas and Tennessee but also occasionally traveled to the west coast. Merle loved to drive, so they didn't stop often, but when they did it was usually at a roadside park to eat lunch which had been packed in their cooler. Later in life, Merle and Joyce enjoyed venturing out in their motor home, as Joyce had a fear of flying even though Merle had a pilot's license. Joyce had an awesome memory and thus was a great story teller, a gift which she inherited from her mother along with her cooking abilities. She often reminisced about past events or occurrences in great detail while never forgetting a name. She also treasured her various collections which included special dolls, liquor decanters, Hershey's, Pillsbury, & Coca-Cola memorabilia.
Those cherishing her memory include her daughters, Cindy (Bruce) Geier of Watertown, Gwenn (James) Ackerman of Selby, and Brenda (Clint) Perman of Selby; eleven grandchildren: Beau (Audrey) Geier on Watertown, Aaron (Jacqueline) Geier of Greenville, WI , Brooke (Josh) Barta of Shakopee, MN, Alan, Regina & Grace Geier of Watertown, Alexis (Chris) Hettick of Selby, Samantha Ackerman (Joey Schwab) of Bismarck, ND, Xavier , Zachary (Terelle Nash-Keller), and Xandria Perman of Selby and 14 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving is her brother, John Holder of Selby, sisters, Vivian Ford of Renton, WA, and Darlene (Al) Fjeldsted of Evergreen, CO.
Gratitude also needs to be given to the doctors, nurses, aides and support staff at Avera Medical Group Oncology & Hematology, Avera Endoscopy Surgical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, and Bowdle Heathcare Center as well as her dear family and friends that provided loving care and support during her journey throughout her battle with cancer. She remained completely optimistic toward the outcome with her struggle of this dreaded disease and defeated the odds against her many times. She may have been petite but she fought a tremendous fight while never complaining.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Merle, her parents, Thomas and Anna, brothers, Wayne and Franklin, and sister, Marilyn Faulkner, two brother-in-laws, Bobby Faulkner and Lyle Ford, and sister-in-law, Eileen Holder.
Honorary casket bearers will be her dear friends and previous employees of the Berens Hotel Café, and Lounge.