Penny Boyce Obituary

It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Penny Boyce, of Sunrise, MN, on February 27, 2025 at the age of 77 after a very sudden decline in health. She was a beloved wife, loving mother, amazing grandmother, doting great grandmother, devoted sister, caring aunt, cherished co-worker, and friend to all. Penny lived a life filled with tremendous caring and service towards others, always putting other's needs, especially family and friends, above her own. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Penny was born on May 31, 1947 in Rush City, MN to Stanley and Delores (nee Knochke) Pieterick. She grew up in Harris, MN with her three siblings: older brother Stephen, older sister Maryanne (Mimi), and younger sister Candace (Toot). She graduated from North Branch Senior High School in 1965.
Penny married Hardis Boyce on November 2, 1963. During their 61 years of marriage they had three children: Robert, Thomas, and Christine. Shortly after their marriage the family moved to a residence on Fish Lake in Chisago County where they resided for 27 years, before moving to their current residence in Sunrise, MN.
While raising the children, Penny worked at Plastech in Rush City, MN and (following her father's footsteps) as a rural mail carrier for the US Post Office. Penny also attended Anoka Technical College during this time and obtained her Surgical Technologist Associated Degree in 1977. She worked as a Surgical Tech for 47 years at many hospitals, with most of her years (over 35) spent at Cambridge Memorial in Cambridge, Minnesota and Tria Orthopedic in Bloomington, MN. To say she loved her profession and her co-workers would be a huge understatement. Her work was an integral part of her life and she enjoyed every minute of it. She regularly arrived at work a couple hours early and frequently stayed late if needed each day. She often marveled at the wonders of the construction of the human body and noted that its architect could only have been a higher power.
Penny loved spending time with her grandchildren and later her great grandchildren, making them a priority above all else. There was no better Grandma or Great Grandma. She was always willing to help out anyone in need, and as a result she provided care for many family members and friends during her life. She loved to watch Gopher Hockey and attended many games over the years, including traveling to many away games, with the highlight being her attendance at their 2003 national championship game in Buffalo, NY. She was a devoted Bruce Springsteen fan and never missed any of his shows in Minnesota. This past year she was even able to see him perform in Dublin, Ireland.
Penny was preceded in death by her parents Stanley in 1986, Delores (Sis) in 1998, and sister Maryann in 2021. Also father and mother-in-law Max and Ethel Boyce, brother-in-law Gordon Boyce, brother and sister-in-law Glen and Nancy Boyce, and sister-in-law Annette Dresel. She is survived by her husband Hardy, children: Robert (Cyndy) Boyce of Scandia, MN, Thomas (Lynn Behr) Boyce of Sunrise, MN, and Christine (Tom) Southbloom of Cambridge, MN, her grandchildren: Oscar (Hannah) Southbloom, Tyler Boyce, and Max (Kendra) Southbloom, and four great grandchildren: Sullivan, Lionel, Bennett, and Rexford, brother Stephen Pieterick, sister, Candace (Mark) Peterson, sister-in-law Betty Boyce, brother-in-law Gene (Nancy) Boyce, sister-in-law Diane (Steven) Perrault, many cousins, nieces and nephews (including those great and great, great).
Penny was a devote member and regularly attended Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church of North Branch, 38460 Lincoln Tr, North Branch MN 55056.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Branch with visitation one hour prior to the service at church on Saturday. Family interment will take place at Sunrise Cemetery at a late date.
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