Joyce Smith Gilbert

Joyce Smith Gilbert passed away peacefully at home April 27, 2026, at the age of 98. She was born on January 23, 1928, in a humble home on her Grandpa Smith’s farm near Lewiston, UT. Joyce was the fourth of eight children born to Alma Borman and Phyllis Workman Smith. Her early years were spent in a small, two-bedroom home. There was no bathroom in the house, so they bathed in a tin tub in the living room.

As a young girl she loved to spend her time outside, helping Grandpa Smith feed the chickens and tromping down the hay. Joyce had a stubborn streak and said, “She must have been that way since she was little.” She loved dancing and, “Being on the stage in pretty costumes.” She also loved softball, track and playing football with her brothers and the neighborhood boys.

In her early years Joyce worked in the sugar beet fields thinning, topping and hoeing the beets. It was hard work and she and the other three workers were paid $7 per acre. She later worked in the Del Monte canning factory and liked that job best because she was able to make $1.00 an hour if she worked hard.

Life changed when Joyce was sixteen. She was at a friend's house when Dallas drove by on his motorcycle. He turned around and came back to talk to the girls and took Joyce for a ride. And that was the start of their wonderful love story. Dallas joined the Navy. When he returned home on leave, they got engaged and were married September 11, 1946, in the Salt Lake Temple after he returned from service. Joyce said, “She was too young, but she knew he was the one.” Together they built a life of service, managing both their home and the family business, Gilbert’s Repair, for many years.

They would be blessed with four children, Nancy, Clyde, Barbara, and Mark. Their years together were full of joy and happiness and love. She loved her children and often talked about what a blessing they were in her life. She loved spending time with her grandkids, great grandkids and eventually great, great, grandchildren. She said, “It didn’t get better than that.” She had an immense love of reading and read a variety of books, and true to her childhood she still loved the outdoors. She and Dallas spent many happy days together golfing at the Preston Golf & Country Club. She also loved taking care of her yard and continued to do so even as she aged.

Joyce’s life was rooted in her faith in Christ. She spent her life tirelessly serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Primary, Young Women’s, and Relief Society. Joyce cherished her years serving as a temple worker in Logan UT. Her small library of books, filled with highlighted passages and personal notes, stands as a testament of her lifelong study and love of the gospel. She found joy in compiling family history and made sure to record and share it.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Dallas Gilbert, her eldest son Clyde Gilbert, her parents, and five siblings.

Joyce is survived by her children, Nancy (Jim) Butterfield, Barbara (Larry) Lewis, Mark (Teresa) Gilbert, and daughter-in-law LeeAnn Gilbert.991]08 Her legacy continues through 16 grandchildren, 56 great grandchildren, and 10 great, great, grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 12 pm at the Fairview Idaho Cemetery, 4200 S. State Street, Preston, Idaho. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 S. State, Preston, Idaho.  She will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Dallas Hazen Gilbert. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com