Myrtle Helen Eldstrom passed away peacefully, in her sleep, at Midale on August 15, 2013 at her home in Mainprize Manor. Myrtle was born March 26, 1917 in the Bromhead district and was the second child of Gustav and Dora Stabenow. She attended Bromhead, Flaata, and Lac Qui Parle schools. Myrtle had to quit school at an early age to help support the family. She worked as a hired girl for various families in the area, milking cows, chopping wood, cooking, cleaning, and gardening. In 1937 Myrtle married Edgar Nelson from the Midale area and they had a son, Norman Nelson. They lived on a farm south west of Midale. In 1943, Edgar died in a car accident. Myrtle married Clarence Eldstrom in 1945 and they had three children, Earl, Keith and Karen. Myrtle and Clarence farmed and raised cattle near the original site of the Mainprize Park. Myrtle always enjoyed when neighbors dropped by for a visit. She told of a time when the neighbors would come over in the late afternoon on their horse drawn sleigh and stay all night, playing cards, and then when it was daylight, the neighbors would return home to do the morning chores. In 1960, electricity was brought into the farm. In 1966 Myrtle and Clarence had a new house moved to the farm and this was the first time she had running water at the farm. Myrtle spent her days taking care of her family, gardening, cooking, milking cows, raising chickens and pigs. Each fall she would can fruit and butcher chickens. When she found some spare time she would embroider table cloths, pillow cases and pictures. Myrtle also enjoyed quilting and made many lovely quilts out of old clothes. With her brother-in-law's wife, Reta Eldstrom, they spent many pleasant afternoons baking pies. Reta would make the crust and Myrtle would make the filling, baking five pies at a time. In 1986 Clarence passed away. In that same year, her son Earl also passed away. Myrtle remained on the farm with her son Keith until 2005 when she moved into Jacquin Place in Midale. This gave her more time to crochet, making rugs and hand towels to hang in the kitchen. She was very pleased when at the age of 90 she won a red ribbon for one of her rugs in the Midale craft fair. In 2006, her son Norman passed away. In 2007 she moved into the Mainprize Manor. While in the Manor she crocheted coasters for the water glasses and water jugs for use by the residents of the Manor. Myrtle is also predeceased by her brother Earl Stabenow and his wife Ida; her sisters and their husbands: Pearl and Carl Eldstrom, Dorcas and Trygve Kittelson, Mabel and Raymond Friedrich; her brothers-in-law Ray Dame, Harold Eldstrom; daughter-in-law Peggy Nelson; and nephews. She is survived by her sister Isabelle Dame, her children Keith Eldstrom (Tiffany Culbertson) of Midale and Karen Koenderink (Ronald) of Saskatoon, her grandchildren Lu-Anne Donnell, Kyle (Colette) Sidloski, Paul Sidloski, Dempsey (Mary) Sidloski, Ann-Dee (Rod) Nunweiler, Edgar Nelson, Keiran Eldstrom; many great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. We'd like to thank the Home Care staff, Jacquin Place staff and the Manor staff for the time they spent with Mom. She really enjoyed their company and appreciated their assistance. Myrtle was very independent and tried hard to do things on her own so the staff would have more time for others that she thought needed extra help. A funeral service was held 1:30 pm on Tuesday, August 20, from Bethlehem Lutheran Church with Pastor Cicely McDougall officiating. Interment followed at Green Acres Memorial Gardens, Weyburn. Pallbearers were, Kyle Sidloski, Edgar Nelson, Don Stabenow, Dale Stabenow, Bruce Friedrick and Randy Sabin. Donations in memory of Myrtle may be made to Midale Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Box 223, Midale, Saskatchewan, S0C 1S0. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, 306-842-5432
