MYRNA OEN obituary

Myrna Ruth Kirkeide Oen died on Jan. 16, 2010, at a Havre care center of natural causes. A memorial aervice will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with Pastor Richard Rice officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the service. Memorials in Myrna's honor may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Alzheimer's Association or the Methodist VOUMC Memorial Fund. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Myrna was born Feb. 19, 1926, to Ingmar and Freida Kirkeide of Minot, N.D. She attended Minot Public Schools and Minot State Teachers College, where in 1947 she earned a standard certificate to teach elementary school. She married Martin G. Oen (Gil) who was from rural Minot on June 5, 1949. They both taught school while raising three children and were very active in church as well as their community. Myrna also earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Mayvill State College, after her children were grown. She taught school in Makoti, N.D., Upham, N.D., and Drayton, N.D., prior to teaching for more than 30 years in Willow City, N.D. She taught third grade most of her life, and after retirement she continued as a substitute teacher in Willow City and area schools. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church and choir, Ladies Aide, Willow City Community Club, Willow City Homemakers Club and Senior Citizens Club. She served on the First Lutheran Church Council and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Myrna lived in Havre, Mont., with her parents from 1928 to 1930. Her father was an accountant for a local business in Havre. Myrna and husband, Gil, moved to Havre in 2006 to be near family. They became members of the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church. She loved walking, riding her bicycle, gardening and crocheting. She enjoyed being with people and was known for her love of conversation and coffee. She spent many vacations traveling and camping with her husband and family. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant son, Jonathon. Myrna is survived by her husband Gil Oen of Havre, Mont.; their children and grandchildren, Marlyne Reinke and husband Steve and their children, Megan and Amanda of Havre, Mont., Melissa DeFilippo of Denver, Linda Pan and husband, Michael, and their children, Michelle and James Paul (JP) of Woodland Hills, Calif., and Paul and wife, Amy, and their children, Sarah, Christine and Samuel of Perth, Australia.