Muriel Gaines

Muriel Gaines, age 87, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the Lakeland Hospice House in Fergus Falls. Muriel Josephine Wold was born January 28, 1924, at home on the farm, the daughter of Edwin and Josephine (Berg) Wold. She grew up on the family farm in Sverdrup Township, near Underwood, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at the Rindal Lutheran Church. Muriel attended and graduated from the Underwood High School in Underwood, Minnesota in 1942. Following high school, she attended the College of Commerce earning a Medical Secretary degree which she briefly utilized at the Estrem Clinic in Fergus Falls, MN. She continued her education to achieve her goal of becoming a nurse by serving in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corp with studies at the St. Olaf College. Following the Nurse Corp, she attended the Northwestern Hospital School of Nursing, receiving part of her training at the Hines Veterans Hospital in Indiana, then returning to Northwestern, graduating in June of 1947. On September 5, 1947, she was united in marriage to Deverity Gaines. A daughter, Mary Louise, was born in August of 1953. Muriel worked as a Licensed Registered Nurse for 47 years. She began her career in Pediatrics specializing in Polio and Iron Lung, serving at the University of Minnesota, the University of Indiana, and the Long Beach Children’s Hospital. She was employed at the Fergus Falls Medical Group for 29 years as a Registered Nurse, a Nursing Service Supervisor and a Patient Educator. After her retirement, she became the Patient Care Coordinator for Lakeland Hospice where she became known as the “Hospice Angel”. In 1990, Muriel was awarded the McKnight Foundation Award for her “exceptional personal commitment and limited public recognition and financial remuneration” during her work with Hospice. Muriel was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where she was the church organist for over 30 years. She served on various committees, including the Church Council, the Minnesota Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, the Pioneer Home Auxiliary Board, the Fergus Falls Concert Association, Meals on Wheels and the YMCA Board. She chaired numerous organizations: the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the Lutheran V. She also enjoyed attending the Quilters Group at church and going to “Donuts” on Thursdays with her friends. Muriel’s dream to have a family lake cabin was fulfilled in 1990, on Ten Mile Lake. She spent every summer living there enjoying the visits of family and friends. She is survived by her daughter Mary (Kurt) Myron of Elbow Lake, MN; grandchildren Melissa (Ryan) Myron-Rustan and Bill (Sarah) Myron of Elbow Lake, MN; great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Mary Rustan, William Rustan and Benjamin Myron; sisters: Judith Olson of Loveland, CO, Borghild (Vern) Stenoien of Woodstock, IL; brother Willard “Pete” (Kay) Wold of Underwood, MN; sister-in-law Mary Wold of Fergus Falls; brother-in-law Loren Cockroft of Kersey, CO; aunt Laura Spies of Fergus Falls, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents Edwin and Josephine Wold, brother Julian Wold, sister Marilyn Cockroft and brother-in-law Orley Olson. Memorials are preferred to the Zion Lutheran Church Building Fund or Lakeland Hospice. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Olson Funeral Home with a 7 p.m. prayer service, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, October 27, 2011, at Zion Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverends Marv Abrahamson, Jim Armstrong, and Curt Rotto Interment: Rindal Cemetery, rural Underwood Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.