Myrtle Finsaas

Myrtle Serine Finsaas, age 82, of Fergus Falls, MN, formerly of Lewistown, MT, passed away November 6, 2010, in Fergus Falls. Myrtle Dahl was born April 18, 1928 near Crosby, ND to Hans and Lena (Frislid) Dahl. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class. She graduated from Trinity Hospital School of Nursing in Minot, ND where she trained under the WWII Cadet Nurse Program. She graduated from Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta. Myrtle married Raymond O. G. Finsaas on April 3, 1952. They worked with the American Sunday School Union in central Montana and she also worked as a Registered Nurse. In 1957 they went to Zimbabwe, Africa as missionaries with The Evangelical Alliance Mission. Myrtle conducted clinics seeing 40 to 75 patients daily. She also taught Shona in the Language School. In 1972 they returned to the States and she continued to work as a Registered Nurse until she retired in 1993. Myrtle loved to teach children’s church, entertain, and bake for others. Her grandchildren will always remember the “tea times with grandma”. She was also a gifted musician, playing piano, accordion, and singing. She is survived by her husband, Raymond; five children: Ruth (David) Kojetin of Lavina, MT, Joy (Duane) Lindgren of Fergus Falls, MN, Nadynne (Tom) Dziura of Big Lake, MN, Raymond A. (LeAnna) of Papua, New Guinea, and Jewel (Jim) Venman of Kalispell, MT; ten grandchildren: Karl (Bryn) Kojetin, Nick Kojetin, Jon Lindgren, Angela Dziura, Andrew and Kristen Finsaas, Peter, Alisa, Kaitlyn and Joshua Venman; two great-grandchildren: Nathan and Carson Kojetin; one brother, Andrew (Louise) Dahl of San Rafael, CA; and one sister, Helga (Arnie) Haugen, of Sidney, MT. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hans and Lena Dahl; her brothers: Bernard, Otto, Stephen; and her sister: Anna. Funeral services will be held at the Light and Life Auditorium of the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls, MN, on November 10, 2010, at 10 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be at Knollwood Memorial Gardens in Fergus Falls, MN.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to: New Tribes Mission Aviation or Karanda Mission Hospital, Zimbabwe, Africa. Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, MN is in charge of arrangements.