Myrtle S. Hanson

Myrtle Sophie Westby was born in Crosby, ND, May 24, 1924, to John and Ragna Westby, who came on a ship from Norway. They moved to Gardner, ND, where Myrtle went to school. Myrtle helped her father in the fields and with the cows at the age of thirteen.

Since they lived in the country, Myrtle had to walk four miles to school. She also had a job caring for, and living with, a woman in a wheelchair. This paid her way through high school. Myrtle played piano by ear, had her own band, and got paid $10 for four hours. Myrtle also worked at Silverline and Simonsons in Moorhead.

Myrtle worked as a seamstress alongside her sister, Gladys Gill, in their drapery business in West Fargo, ND. Myrtle later moved to Glyndon, MN, where she had her own sewing business from her home. She helped start Maranatha Free Lutheran Church in Glyndon. They first met in Shirley Sam's garage until the church was built. Myrtle helped clean the church, taught Bible study, and started Prayer Warriors and choir. She gave to help others and loved animals.

Myrtle and her children, Gayle and Brian, enjoyed going to hear Flashback Band, for which her son, Moe, played drums. Everyone who knew Myrtle called her "Mom." She moved to Moorhead in 2003, and to Eventide Lutheran Home on November 14, 2015. She suffered a heart attack on January 28, 2016, and passed away at Eventide on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at ninety-three years of age. Myrtle loved everybody and she will be missed.

Myrtle was married to Wendell Hanson in Fargo, ND. Two children were born to this union, Gayle Hanson and Jerome "Moe" Hanson. Myrtle later married Curt Morris in Fargo, and one son, Brian Morris, was born. Myrtle married Marvin Hanson in Glyndon, and they were married for almost thirty years until his death on June 8, 2002.

The family would like to thank all of Myrtle's friends and workers at Eventide who cared for her. Thanks to Chaplain Stephen Streed and Pastor Elroy Vesta for their visits and prayers; Richard and his dog, Myrtle, for their visits and prayers; Myrtle's friends at Liberty Lutheran Brethren Church for their cards and prayers; and Hospice of the Red River Valley for their loving care.

Myrtle is survived by her daughter, Gayle Hanson, Moorhead; sons, Jerome "Moe" (Janine) Hanson, Moorhead, and Brian Morris, Fargo; four grandchildren, Patrick (Cindy) Leach, Glyndon, Pamala (Dave) Shaw, Badger, MN, Greta Richardson, Fargo, and Jessica (Chuck) Gaasterland, Princeton, MN; and five great-grandchildren, Taylor, Nathan, and Joey Shaw, and Ryan and Dylan Leach.

Visitation for Myrtle will be Saturday, August 19, 2017, from 3 - 5 PM, with a prayer service at 4:30 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.

A Memorial service will be Sunday, August 20, 2017, at 2 PM, in Liberty Lutheran Brethren Church, Fargo.

Burial will be in Gardner Cemetery, Gardner, alongside her parents, John and Ragna Westby; sister, Gladys Gill; and brother, Berger Westby.