Myrtle Hexom

HEXOM, JOHNSON, ONSAGER, WESTBY

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 12/18/2002 at 15:05:44

Myrtle Hexom, age 91, of Decorah, died Wed., Nov. 13, 2002, at Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah after a long illness. Funeral services were held Sat., Nov. 16 at Glenwood Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, with Rev. Susan Debner officiating. Burial was in the Glenwood East Cemetery. Fjestful Funeral Home assisted with arrangements. Myrtle Jeanette (Johnson) Hexom, the daughter of Andrew O. and Anna Maria (Onsager) Johnson, was born June 9, 1911, in Union Prairie Township, Allamakee County. She was baptized July 2, 1911, at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church and confirmed there on Nov. 1, 1925. She was a graduate of Decorah High School with the class of 1931. After her schooling, Myrtle stayed at home to care for her parents. On June 28, 1938, she married George M. Westby. They purchased a farm in Glenwood Township, Winneshiek County, and were actively engaged in farming and a dairy operation, until George's death on March 16, 1973. After his death, Myrtle moved to Decorah and was employed by Hales Clothing Store for several years. On Dec. 11, 1980, she married Arnold H. Hexom at Glenwood Lutheran Church in Decorah. She moved to Waverly, and joined him in his auctioneering business. He always called her "Miss Myrtle" and they spent their winters in Scottsdale, Ariz. After Arnold's death on May 3, 1990, Myrtle moved back to Decorah. She became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in Postville on March 1, 2000. Myrtle was a member of the Glenwood Ladies' Aid, Farm Bureau, and the Toastmistress Group in Waukon. She taught Sunday School for many years and was a long-time choir member at Glenwood Lutheran Church in Decorah. She served in many capacities within the church, including the Love Circle and the Peace Circle. She was a baptismal sponsor for many children and enjoyed all the activities of her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; her sisters; Arla Johnson and Ruth Ask; and her brother, Julian Johnson. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, some cousins, and two sisters-in-law, Helen Basler and Esther Hill, both of Decorah. Eric Blumhagen, Greg Blumhagen, Steve Downing, Tom Duvel, Warren Jensen, Tim Means, Todd Seigenthaler, and Mike Wright were casket bearers.

©Waukon Standard 2002
-source: Waukon Standard, Nov. 20, 2002