JoAnn Gregory

With hearts full of love and gratitude, we share the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, JoAnn Gregory, née Richardson, who left this world peacefully, surrounded by the love she so freely gave in life.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 2:00 pm Bethel Lutheran Church; 5232 Irvine Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601. All are welcome to join us in remembering a life so beautifully lived.

JoAnn was born in Churchs Ferry, ND in 1933 to Everett Lee and Mae Sophie Richardson, and raised primarily in Medina, ND. She married William (“Bill”) Gregory on December 28, 1957, marking the beginning of a beautiful, 67-year romance. Beginning in Grand Forks, ND, Bill and JoAnn built a life together centered on family, faith, and community. Their love would prove to be a testament to partnership, filled with shared joys, quiet moments, and deep mutual respect.

She is survived by her loving husband, William, her daughter, Diane, her son, Rob, their spouses, Neal, and Pam, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren—with another on the way. JoAnn’s only sibling and sister, Opal, passed away in 1990.

JoAnn lived a life marked by grace, compassion, and a quiet strength that touched all who knew her. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of North Dakota. She spent her professional career teaching in West Fargo and Wahpeton, ND, where she displayed an extraordinary gift for kindness—offering a warm smile or a thoughtful word to everyone she encountered, strangers and friends alike. She believed deeply in the goodness of people and lived each day reflecting that belief. Her students remember her not just for what she taught, but for how she made them feel seen, heard, and encouraged. Her colleagues admired her steady presence and deep commitment to nurturing learning environments filled with respect and curiosity.

JoAnn carried that same spirit into her family life, where she was the foundation of love and touchstone of wisdom for generations. Her legacy as a grandmother is legendary—she could have written the definitive guide on how to be a great grandma. Every page would have been filled with stories of patience, laughter, and unshakable love. Her grandchildren—Matt, Ryan, Anna, Zach, and Jake—never questioned her belief in them. And to her seven great-grandchildren, she was a gentle, joyful presence who always had time, a hug, and a story to share.

JoAnn found deep joy in nature, especially at the Lake, where countless happy memories were made on peaceful pontoon rides, the water sparkling like her laughter. In the winters, she made Arizona her home-away-from- home, where she found sunshine, warmth, and a new circle of dear friends. Wherever she went lasting connections were sure to materialize since making friends, and keeping them, was one of her many gifts.

Each of us who knew JoAnn carries forward her legacy—one of kindness, of love, and the gentle strength that made her so deeply beloved. But more than a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—JoAnn was a true and treasured friend to each of us. She was the kind of person you could count on—steadfast in loyalty, generous with her time, and ever ready with a listening ear or a comforting word. She had a way of making every person in the family feel uniquely seen and deeply valued. Whether it was trying something new, offering encouragement, or simply showing up, JoAnn exemplified what it meant to be a companion in the truest sense. Her friendship was one of the greatest gifts we have received, and it is one we continue to treasure as we pass it along to the next generation.

In lieu of gifts, the family asks that memorials be directed to the Building Fund for the historic Hackensack Library, the restoration and conservation of which was a cause close to JoAnn’s heart, and one that reflects her lifelong love of learning and community in the place she considered ‘home.’ Contributions can be sent to: 

Hackensack Lending Library Building Fund

P.O. Box 13

Hackensack, MN 56452

We will miss our Wife, Mom, and Grandma Jo every day. Still, we rejoice in and thank God for the memories she left us—memories of a woman who loved fiercely, gave selflessly, and left the world better than she found it. Her life was a blessing, her memory a treasure, and her love lives on in us all.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of JoAnn Gregory, please visit our Tree Store.