Joyce Biebelle, long-time ranch lady of San Lorenzo, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 9, 2024 at her ranch in Gallinas Canyon. Joyce was born in Lordsburg, NM on January 21, 1931 to Harmon and Alma Wright.

She had a country-girl childhood, growing up along the banks of the Gila River in Redrock, NM. She talked about playing along the river on many hot summer days with her sisters and brother. As she grew, she learned to cook alongside her mother, to garden and sew, gaining a strong work ethic that followed her all her life. She graduated from Lordsburg High School and later attended college at Western New Mexico University. While in college she stayed with an aunt and uncle whose son was a cattle buyer. During a cattle buying deal, Joyce met Marcel Biebelle, the love of her life. They married in June 1951 and moved to part of the family ranch on Noonday Canyon. There she built a home, raised a garden and had two children, Marlene and Randy. When the elder Biebelles became ill, Joyce and Marcel moved to Gallinas Canyon, the ranch headquarters where she lived, enjoyed and worked until she went home to her God a few days ago. Joyce was well known by many and was most famous for her cooking roast beef with potatoes and carrots, that no one can quite match, yeast rolls, and pies, that people would drive from Silver City to eat when she worked for the Mimbres Valley Café.

Even a plain ol' sandwich was better when she put it together. One of Randy's friends once said, "I don't think he'd have any friends, if it wasn't for Joyce's cooking". Although, always a lady, she was not averse to hard work. She washed clothes in a wringer washer, rode in the mountains with her husband, and was right alongside him in the branding pen. After Marcel's death in 1980, Joyce continued on at the ranch, keeping home going and doing what ranch work she could when no one else was there.

She leaves behind a legacy of great love, great work ethics, not to mention exceptional cooking.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marcel; her parents, a brother and sister. She is survived by her daughter, Marlene of Noonday Canyon in San Lorenzo, and son, Randy and wife, Nina, of Corona, NM. Other family members include sister, Faye Rust of Lubbock, TX; grandchildren, Nikki and Vic Michaud of Bristol, CT., Zach Law and wife, Gina, Brandon and wife Shay, and grandson, Ben Law of San Lorenzo, NM. She is also survived by great grandchildren, Riley and Payton Law, Clair and Amy Biebelle, many other family members and many, many friends.

Cremation has been entrusted to Baca's Funeral Chapels. A Service to celebrate Joyce Biebelle's life will be held at the Roundup Lodge in Mimbres, NM, on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 11:00 am. A reception and meal will follow.

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