Joy A. Schlag, 88, Minot, formerly of Velva, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, in a Minot hospital.

Joy was born July 21, 1921, at Redstone, Mont., the son of Harley and Marie Rose (Murr) Schlag. He was raised on the family farm and attended Eagle Creek Country School for eight years and one year at Flaxville High School in Montana.

He moved with his family to Rolla and attended high school there and assisted his father with the operation of the farm until 1944, when they moved to Bergen.

Joy was united in marriage to LaVerne Schuhrke on Dec. 26, 1942, at Towner. From this union, five children were born. They moved to Velva in 1950, and Joy began employment with Verendrye Electric Cooperative. He began working as a lineman and continued to work for the company until retiring in 1983.

Joy was later married to LaVerna Hovland on June 11, 1965, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Sawyer. They continued to make their home in Velva, until he entered Trinity Homes in Minot in 2004.

Joy was a member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, Velva, and later St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Sawyer, where he had served as an elder and church treasurer. In his younger years he was also a member of the Velva Golf Club and participated in bowling leagues in Velva. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, square dancing and traveling in his later years.

His loving family includes: wife, LaVerna, Velva, children, Donna (Emil) Wachinski, Minot, Karon Kasprowicz, Velva, Joyleen (Dr. Steve) Mattson, Minot, Marlys Vinticinquo, Princeton, N.J., and Roger (Nancy) Schlag, Velva; stepchildren, Lavonne Hovland, Beaverton, Ore., Karen (John) Kramer, Velva, and Myron Hovland, Lake Stevens, Wash.; 21 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren.

Joy was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral service: Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at 2 p.m. in Trinity Homes, Minot.

Recitation of the rosary: Today, Aug. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Graveside service: Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the Sawyer Community Cemetery.

Memorial service: Sunday, Aug. 23, at 4 p.m. in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Sawyer.

Visitation: Today from noon to 5 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: Memorials are preferred to an organization of the donor's choice.

Those wanting to sign the online memorial register or share memories and condolences are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).