Joyce Eileen (Torgerson) Orf was born July 18, 1939, and passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Aug. 2, 2026, in Chehalis, Washington.
Joyce grew up in Dunn Center, North Dakota, on a farm with her six siblings and parents, Millard and Appalonia Torgerson. She rode horses, raised cows and chickens, and loved being outdoors playing in the fields around their home. Joyce loved fondly retelling her friends and family stories of her childhood on the North Dakota plains. If you knew Joyce, you knew everything grew better, tasted better and was just “better” in North Dakota.
She met her husband, Dennis Orf, when she was in high school. They married when Joyce was 18 and Dennis was 21. While Joyce always loved and praised the Lord, she remembered getting on her knees in a church at the age of 19 and giving her life fully and unconditionally to God, a commitment she embraced her entire life.
Joyce moved to Virginia, where Dennis was deployed with the Navy in the 1950s. There, they had their daughter, Renate. In the 1960s, they moved to Centralia, Washington, and their son, Troy, was born. During this time, they also began a home mission church locally, where they served and loved the people who were part of their church and Bible studies.
In the late 1960s, Joyce and Dennis started a business, Cascade Stationery. The business grew and settled into a building at 563 N. Market Blvd. in downtown Chehalis, where it thrived for many years. Cascade Stationery was a cornerstone for office supplies and furniture in Lewis County until Dennis’ sudden passing from brain cancer in 2001 and Joyce’s subsequent retirement.
In addition to working at their business, Joyce was involved in community Bible studies for many years in leadership roles. She was also part of the beginning of the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) ministry in Lewis County and served as a mentor there for several years. She had a heart for young moms and their children.
If you knew Joyce, you knew she was one of the kindest and most nonjudgmental people you would ever meet. Joyce embraced the love that Jesus asks us to have — you could be family or friend, poor or rich, Christian or non-Christian, and Joyce would always want to genuinely get to know you and love you, just as Christ did.
Joyce always had a special love for children, having taught Sunday school for many years and helping raise her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom fondly called her “Grape Grammy.” Her family always said she had a “hotline to heaven” and were deeply comforted when Grammy was praying.
Joyce wanted nothing else in this world except to bring peace to hearts and spread Christ’s love. Joyce accomplished that every day. We will all miss Joyce and feel the incredible task of carrying on the ministry she led us in while she was here with us. We know where she is and delight in knowing that we will all be together again someday.
Joyce is survived by her children, Renate (Jeff) and Troy (Wendy); grandchildren, Levi (Kelsie), Amanda (Jared), Joshua (Kelsey), Joseph (Brandon) and Jonathan; and great-grandchildren, Avery, Olive, Rolly, Appalonia, Lucia, Noemi, Daniel, London, Beckham, Ainsleigh and Bridgette.
During the last few years of her life, Joyce was cared for not only by her family but also by her family at Silver Acres in Chehalis. Her caregivers found comfort when they could sit and talk with Joyce and knew they were in the presence of unconditional love. Joyce loved hearing their stories and was very engaged with those who lived at Silver Acres with her. The care she received was exceptional, and her family is comforted knowing she was surrounded by loving hands and hearts.
Shortly before her passing, Joyce was able to celebrate her 87th birthday with friends and family filling her room at Silver Acres, singing “Happy Birthday” and eating cake.
A memorial reception will be announced at a later date.
If you wish to remember Joyce, in lieu of flowers or donations, perhaps you would choose to perform an act of kindness — whether gifting someone a coffee, Joyce’s favorite drink, simply lending an ear to someone who needs to be heard, or saying a prayer for peace for those you love and others around you.
Often, when Joyce would say goodbye, she would end with these words:
“Watch for God.”
