Joan (Haugan) Pillen was born on August 18, 1963, to Dr. Haakon and Helen Haugan on a blazing hot summer day in St. Paul, Minnesota. Soon afterward, the family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, in the beautiful Black Hills, where Joan’s adventurous spirit began to flourish.

As a child, Joan loved ballet, gymnastics, and most of all, horses. A gifted rider, she excelled in dressage and jumping competitions, winning numerous awards with her beloved horse, Chief’s Smokey, whom she trained herself. Fearless and creative, Joan approached life with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a daredevil spirit.

Joan graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering and an MBA from USD. After working in industry, she returned to Rapid City, where she met the love of her life, Jubal Pillen. The two were married on September 7, 1999, in the Bahamas — fittingly, another grand adventure in a life full of them.

Together, Joan and Jubal built a life and business in Sturgis, where they owned J & J Optical, with their two cheerful poodles greeting customers at the door. Joan also poured her creativity and passion into her wedding business, the Sturgis Hitchin’ Post.

An avid storyteller with a deep love for horses, the Black Hills, and authentic living, Joan went on to write the Prairie Magic series, four award-winning novels that reflected her imagination, insight, and love of life. She had a gift for connecting with people through stories, laughter, wit, and genuine warmth.

Joan’s life was filled with gratitude, dear friendships, and deep love. She will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. She would want to be remembered with her signature smile, charm, resilience, and grace — dancing through life on her own terms.

Joan was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Haakon Haugan, mother in law, Bonnie Pillen, and her brother in law, Paul Pillen.

She is survived by her husband, Jubal Pillen; her mother, Helen Ackerson; her stepfather, Ronald Ackerson; her sisters, Ruth Haugan and Mary (Alan) Anderson; father in law Gary Pillen (Kathy), sisters in law, Shannon Madison and Kari Smith (Jake), brother in law, Mike Pillen (Carissa) and her nephews, Haakon Anderson, Henry Anderson, and Holden Anderson.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at Kinkade Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.