Kristeen’s Story

Site created on April 9, 2023

As many of you know, Mom has battled many different health conditions for years.  On her birthday, Feb 21st, she was hospitalized due to extreme weakness and not being safe at home.  Since then she has been in the hospital for 3 days, skilled care for 12 days, assisted living for 3 weeks, hospital again for 3 days and now back to skilled care.  She continued to get weaker and a week ago an ER visit led to the finding of a mass on her pancreas.  After they put a stent in and did a biopsy, they confirmed it is pancreatic cancer.  She is 87 pounds, very weak and still fighting the uncontrollable diarrhea that she has had for 9 months.  As of right now, she does not plan to seek treatment.  She is choosing quality days over quantity.  At this time she is blessed to have zero pain.

Right now she is in skilled care at Friendship Village in Waterloo, IA.  We are in the process, as a family, of deciding where she will be the happiest and most cared for.  She is in need of 24 hour help, so going home is not an option.

Angie is fully in charge of her care and the medical side.  She is working with everyone and certainly keeping them on their toes.  Greg, her husband and the #1 son-in-law, is amazing.  He is with Mom daily, keeping her in check and helping with whatever she needs.

We are asking for prayers of peace, comfort and guidance.

Friendship Village
Wellspring Unit #3002
580 Parklane
Waterloo, IA  50702

Or the Farm
2273 Packard Ave
Charles City, IA  50616

Newest Update

Journal entry by Missy Boyd

Kristeen Ann Boyd (74) of Charles City, IA died peacefully surrounded by family on July 3rd, 2023, at the Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo, IA.  She fought a brief, but courageous fight with pancreatic cancer following a long struggle with multiple autoimmune diseases.

Kristeen Boyd was born on February 21, 1949 in Charles City, Iowa, the fourth daughter of Norman and Leona Hallberg.   She graduated from Charles City High School in 1967 and married her high school sweetheart, Leland Boyd, on December 28, 1968.   They enjoyed traveling together including several trips to Hawaii, Europe, the Holy Lands, Australia and to their cabin in Canada.  Kris cherished time with family, especially if games were involved, and many of their travels were to visit her three sisters or her children and grandchildren.  One of her favorite trips was taking their children, spouses and grandchildren on a cruise to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Kristeen was the bookkeeper for the family farm, D & L Stock Farms, along with managing her family, home, and yard.  She took great pride in her garden, landscape, houseplants and sharing their bounty with others.   She loved children and provided daycare in her home for many years.  Music filled her life as she enjoyed being a member of the Charles City Singers and a local Madrigal Group and filled her home with faithful music.   She found solace in her deeply rooted faith in our savior Jesus and attended many bible studies and small groups.  

Living family members include, husband, Leland Boyd of Charles City; daughters, Angela (Greg) Townsend of Cedar Falls, IA, Melissa (Wendy Haroldson) Boyd of Lakeville, MN; grandchildren, Caleb (Carlye) Townsend, Tyler Haroldson, Elijah Townsend, Abigail Townsend, Gabrielle Townsend, honorary family members Matt and Julie Vance, sisters, Karen Spratt, Karla (Bill) Smith, Kathy (Mel) Blanton and sister-in-law, Karen (Steve) Rankin and many nieces, nephews and great nieces/nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents (Norman and Leona Hallberg), parents-in-law (Duane and Genevieve Boyd), and brother-in-law (Roger Spratt).

Visitation will be held Sunday, July 9th from 3 to 7pm at Bethany Alliance Church, 1100 Clinton St, Charles City, IA.  Funeral services will be at the same location on Monday, July 10th at 10:30 am.  Her ashes will be buried at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City at a later date. 

 

Memorials will be directed by the family to Hope for Life, Charles City and Cedar Valley Hospice.

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