Verda A. McMahon Joyce was granted her angel wings peacefully on March 18th, 2017. A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, March 23th at St. Margaret's Church in Geraldine at 7:00 pm. The Rosary will be said at 6 pm.  A funeral mass will be at 11:00 am on Friday, March 24, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ft. Benton. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Verda's online memorial page at www.bentonfh .com to leave a message of condolence for the family. She was born on May 26th, 1922 in Wyocena, WI. She was the middle daughter of 5 children of William and Mary McMahon.  At age 7, she was struck with the polio virus. It was a challenge she had for the rest of her life but she persevered with courage, strength and a strong faith in God.  After attending high school in Pardeeville, she attended business school in Beloit, WI.  Pearl Harbor was attacked about that time so she joined the WAVES.  She met the love of her life Edwin "Eddy" Joyce at a dance and they were married at St. Mary's Church in Portage, WI.  In January of 1946 the first of their 15 children, Joe, was born. Shortly after, Ed was medically discharged from the army and they moved to Montana to work for Uncle Frank Joyce.  The years ahead were filled with the births of 14 more children: Mike, Kathleen, Patrick, Sallie, Adele, Regina, Maureen, Daniel, Brigette, Casey, Perry, Kevin, Angela and Colette.  Raising their children was always her main priority which sometimes meant making her kids toe the line, and disciplining and teaching them to do the right thing...Having this big family also required that she work side by side with Ed to help build up the business Joyce Fuel and Feeds, raising animals, farming, and gardening.  Mom spent hours cooking, washing dishes, washing and hanging laundry, preparing meals and she still took time to read and play with her children. Her happiest times were spent with her family, playing pinochle with her friends, listening to Irish music and dancing. She also enjoyed supporting the needs of the community and school by making donuts, sandwiches or whatever was needed for organizations such as St. Margaret's and Immaculate Conception churches, American Legion Auxiliary, 4-H, and the community swimming pool. Despite the obstacles she faced with macular degeneration in her later years, she was able to continue the pleasure of playing cards and games with friends and grandkids, dancing at special occasions and traveling to see her family.  She is survived by her 15 children, 44 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren, and 4 great-greats, her brother Mick McMahon and sister-in-law Marian Joyce, her dear cousin Joyce (and Eddy) Seavecki, plus many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Edwin Joseph Joyce, her parents William and Mary McMahon, her sister Shirley Prosch and her brothers Leo (Mac) and Bill McMahon, her sons-in-law Joe Owen and Jim Trudnowski, and two angel grandchildren Brady Nelson and Kathryn Donnelly.  She also dearly missed so many of her friends that passed before her. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to La Vie or Angela's Piazza (both which support mothers and children), St Jude's, Montana Association for the Blind (support for visually impaired), or a charity of your choice. The burial will take place at a later date.