Myra Olson

Myra Jean Gustafson was born July 2, 1930 on her family's farm in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin. Along with her four sisters, she attended a one room elementary school and graduated from Plum City high school. She had many warm memories and stories about working alongside her father and growing up on what she fondly called "The poultry farm". Myra's family were devoted Christians and early on in her life she was baptized and was an ardent and faithful servant to the Lord throughout her entire life.
During her senior year of high school a school bus accident altered the course of her life. The excellent medical care she received so impressed her that she decided then and there to become a nurse.
Rockford Illinois, the home of her Aunt and Uncle, provided not only a degree from the Swedish American Nursing Institute, but also an introduction to her future husband Gene. After marriage on January 19, 1952 they lived in Rockford and later Homewood Illinois where they raised their three boys. Myra and Gene made their home there for 52 years with Myra working at various nursing positions. Around the time of their retirement in 1990, Myra and Gene purchased a vacation home in Tucson, AZ which they enjoyed every winter for twenty five years. All this time Myra was busy being a devoted wife and mother, a wonderful Grandmother to her eight grandchildren, leading several grief support groups, and generating an enormous genealogy database with over 4900 names and associated historical information.
In 2012 Myra and Gene moved full time to Boutwells Landing in Stillwater, where they continued to enjoy full fellowship with family and new friends. In 2015 Mom was able to realize one of her lifelong dreams by traveling with Gene, her three boys and their wives on a weeklong Alaskan cruise.
Myra leaves behind a legacy of unequivocal love for every individual in her entire family and generosity to her many friends and people she was a caregiver for. On this earth she gave far more than she took, and left everyone she touched a better person. She and Gene celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in January. Her worsening health left her eager to go home to her Lord, and after a one week residence in hospice care she passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 4th.
Survived by husband of 65 years, Gene; sister, Virginia Bergman; sons, David (Marla), Bruce (Diane) and Jim (Annette); 8 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. Memorial service Saturday, 3:00 P.M. at BRADSHAW CELEBRATION OF LIFE CENTER, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater. Memorials are preferred to Neighbors Helping Neighbors.