Joan Finch Hall, age 89, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, June 8, 2012, at a care center in Watertown.  She was the widow of Clarence R. “Doc” Hall.  Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2012, at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Rev. Steven Bailey will officiate.  There will be no visitation.  Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Honorary pallbearers will be Joan’s grandchildren:  David Hall, Stephen Hall, Eric Hall, Ryan Hall, and Bethany Eighmy.

 Joan was born on January 27, 1923, at Borehamwood, England, to Gerald Finch and Eleanor (Brock) Roberts.  She was educated at a private school in Kent and later at schools in London.  Joan worked with the Red Cross in 1939 at the outbreak of WWII.  In 1941, she joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service and served in their de-coding branch at Bletchley Park.  Towards the end of the war, she met Clarence, who was serving in the U.S. Air Force in England.

 Joan came to the United States in 1946 and on July 10, 1946, she and Clarence were united in marriage in Brookings, SD.  In 1947, the couple moved to Watertown where Clarence taught at Watertown High School for 32 years.

 She loved spending time with her family.  She enjoyed gardening, social activities and traveling.  Joan and Clarence traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Bahamas.

 Joan is survived by her three children: Brian (Pat) Hall of Aurora, CO, Barry (Kay) Hall of Longmont, CO, and Karen Eighmy of Apple Valley, MN; five grandchildren; and one sister, Betty Muther, of Hamburg, Germany.

 She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, in 2010; and her parents.