Joe was born on the homestead farm of his maternal grandfather, Martin Dahl, near Grafton, ND. He grew up and attended school at Nash, ND and also attended Hoople High School. On November 2, 1935 he married Eugenia McLennon at Hoople, ND. He farmed with his father in the Nash area until moving to Drayton in 1937 where he and his brother, Delbert, built their first potato warehouse and were among the first potato growers in the area. In the early 1950's Joe and his brother Kenneth established the Rutherford Potato Company in Burlington, Iowa. He also served for a time as a potato broker in Chicago. For many years, he and Gene traveled to Phoenix during the winter where they spent time with his brother, Kenny, and cousin, Meff Rutherford. Gene died in 1995. Joe enjoyed good health his entire life. He slipped and fell on the ice while getting his mail. Joe died in Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND on March 17, 1999. Funeral services were held in Drayton at the Adamson-Austin Funeral Home. Ministers were Gilbert Ricter and Dale Spence. Music by Edith Mack, Janine Yuhl, and Tim Myron. Pallbearers were David Halcrow, Wade Gjevre, Kris Ferguson, Clinton Gjevre,Ross Landowski, and Perry Degeldere.