Joan Marie Michalski

Joan Marie Barta Michalski, 95, Devils Lake, ND, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 15, at Eventide Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake. 
 
 Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 24, at 10:00 AM, with visitation prior from 9:00-10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Devils Lake. Burial will be in Devils Lake Cemetery. 
 
 Joan Marie Barta was born July 19, 1928, in Voss, Walsh County, ND, to Stanley and Antonette (Karnik) Barta. She graduated from Grafton High School, then graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1950 with a degree in Home Economics. She worked as a Home Extension Agent in Benson County. In 1952, she married Leonard Michalski. They moved to Devils Lake and built a house in Lakewood in 1959. The house became a home not only to her family but to numerous neighbors and friends (fresh coffee day and night). 
 
 While raising her four boys, she also found a social life with her Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Bridge Club, Catholic Daughters, politics, and a Bohemian love for the arts, supporting the Community Concert Series, Drama Clubs, and fostering her sons’ interest in music. As the boys got older, she started teaching part time at Central High School and even ran for political office. 
 
 The love of her life, Leonard, died on January 8, 1986, and Joan remained in their Lakewood home, where she loved to garden, until the flood moved her into town, where she lived very independently until 2019.
 
 Joan will always be with us in spirit and in wonderful memories. Rest in peace.
 
 She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Stanley and Darrell, and husband Leonard. Survivors include her sister, Jody Hanson, sons Mike, Nick (Becci), Timothy (Debbie), and Chris (Marjorie), grandchildren Max and Libby Michalski, and great-grandson Hendrix Michalski.