JoAnne Evelyn Garmann passed away at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND on January 8, 2026 surrounded by her family and loved ones.

JoAnne was born on January 5, 1942 in Watford City, ND, to parents Lydia (Jore) and Adam Karpyak.

JoAnne attended school in Watford City. During that time she met the love of her life Dale, who was right across the street. It was love at first sight. When she was asked when did Dale propose to her, her reply was, "practically 2 minutes after we met" and she laughed. On November 16th, 1958 they married and started building their lives together. They raised 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. She supported her husband and children at a level not many could keep up to. She was a homemaker and everything about her life was about family. Even though she was extremely busy with her family and home life she also had many other jobs throughout her life. She delivered milk for the Watford City Creamery, she worked at Carl's Bakery, and she babysat countless children. She sold Avon, Oysters with Pearls and Mary Kay. She was a sucker for a vacuum salesman with a good pitch. She watched and helped raise her many grandchildren. She was always attending their school programs and activities and even helped pick them up from practices and drop offs in her big maroon Lincoln Continental which she loved to drive, and she had a lead foot.

JoAnne loved to crochet and she taught some of her grandkids how to crochet. She also loved making tie blankets and at one time turned her living room into a tie blanket factory and made a tie blanket for everyone she knew! She also enjoyed gardening, canning, and making jelly from the strawberries and raspberries she gathered from the huge patches she and Dale grew. She loved clothes and she LOVED shopping and while she shopped she always stated "Well I don't really need that...but..." Yep she bought it anyways. She even loved shopping at Sam's Club even though she had a hard time walking. As soon as that shopping cart was in her hand she was off like a rocket. Another favorite of JoAnne's was watching movies and recording every single one she watched. She had an impressive collection of VHS tapes at one point, before the DVR came along and man did she love that DVR technology! She also had an awesome collection of plants in the house which she loved and took great care of. They sure thrived in her house. JoAnne always had sweets in the house and the first thing offered was something to drink and eat when you arrived to visit. She loved strawberry smoothies and a good pretzel bite. We all will miss her homemade popcorn balls at Halloween.

The one thing we will miss the most is her standing in the kitchen window waving goodbye whenever anyone left the house. We are sure JoAnne is now smiling and waving at us all from the window of Heaven.

JoAnne is survived by her children, Kevin (Jean) Garmann of Bloomfield, MI; Wade (Rhonda) Garmann of Watford City, ND; Cary (Darlene) Garmann of Watford City, ND; Lori (Dan) English of Williston, ND; and Chad (Becky) Garmann of Watford City, ND; grandchildren Ashley (Jose) Gonzalez, Brianna Garmann, Brandi Garmann, Bailee (Devin) Knight, Dayton Connor, Casey Garmann, Kristi Garmann, Josh Garmann, Cole Garmann, Austin (Christin) Garmann, Destiny Regh, Dakota Garmann, Sierra (Jake) Shipp, Damien Liedtke, Heather Liedtke, Derek Liedtke, Karee Jo Garmann, Chris Doerfler and Stephanie Doerfler; and 38 great-grandchildren. JoAnne is also survived by siblings, Joe Karpyak of Wenden, AZ and Bryon Karpyak of Watford City, ND and numerous nieces and nephews.

JoAnne is preceded in death by her husband, Dale, her parents Adam and Lydia and siblings, Myrna, Dale and Steve.