Myrtle Highum

Myrtle Alinda Highum was born on September 17, 1922, on a farm near Belview, the daughter of Martin and Annie Odegard. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and as a young girl, moved with her family to Upper Sioux Agency Township near Granite Falls where she attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1940. During high school, Myrtle worked for Cudahay Produce and for several years after high school she worked as a clerk for the Red Owl and Jack Sprat Grocery Stores. On September 13, 1941, she was united in marriage to Wallace Highum by the Rev. O.J. Erickson at the Granite Falls Lutheran Church parsonage. They moved to Minneapolis. While residing in Minneapolis, they became the proud parents of a daughter in 1952 and a son in 1956. Myrtle worked for a short time at Dispatch Cleaners and then at the Bureau of Engraving, Industrial Division where she put in 25 years of dedicated service prior to retiring. She moved back to Granite Falls on October 16, 1990. Myrtle was called from this life in the evening hours of Wednesday, October 17, 2012, while a patient at the Granite Falls Manor. She was 90 years of age. Surviving family include her daughter Vickie (Lalo) Muro of Richfield, her son Richard (Robin) Highum of Richfield, her brother Wallace Odegard of Granite Falls, granddaughters Janelle Loeb of Rochester and Megan & Kristin Highum of Richfield; her grandson Kyle Highum of Richfield; great granddaughters Mya & Ashley and great grandson Cody, all of Rochester. Preceding Myrtle in death were her parents; her brothers Orville & Millard and sisters Alma, Pearl and Esther (in infancy).