Myra M. Lien

Myra M. Lien, age 94, of Appleton, passed away Monday morning, August 8, 2022, in Appleton Area Health-Care Center.  Visitation will be 12:30 - 2:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Minnesota Valley Lutheran Church, rural Louisburg.  Vicar Sara Larson will officiate.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Myra Mildred Lien was born January 15, 1928, in Montevideo, MN to parents, Herman Frederick Behl and Wilhelmina (Zimmerman) Behl. Growing up in Milan, MN, she was baptized and confirmed at Kviteseid Lutheran Church. She graduated from Milan High School in 1946 at the top of her class.

After declining a scholarship to St. Olaf University, she remained in Milan, working for the William Thompson, Sr. family in their hardware store.  One day she sold a lawn mower to a handsome farmer from Hantho township who was smitten by her and asked her out on a date. On September 18, 1949, the two were married and eventually blessed with three children – Phyllis, Donald, and Dale.

Odin and Myra lived and farmed in Hantho township, Lac qui Parle County, along with Odin’s brother, Gilbert, raising hogs and Hereford cattle along with grain farming. In addition to helping with the farm work, Myra went to work at the Appleton Municipal Hospital and Nursing Home in 1965 as a nurse’s aide. She loved her work as a nurse and eventually earned her LPN degree. She made many lifelong friends with coworkers and gave much comfort and compassion to many patients.

In August of 1986, Odin and Myra moved to Appleton and in December of that year, Myra suffered a stroke, forcing her to retire from nursing. She fought back to recover from the stroke and was able to resume life, dealing with some lasting effects that she learned to live with.

In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother to her three children, Myra was an excellent cook and baker. She loved having visitors, be they friends, family, or sometimes even strangers. She always had something ready to serve visitors who might drop by. When people thanked her for the food, her response was usually “glad if you can eat it.”

Along with cross stitch and crocheting, Myra was a human hardanger factory, creating beautiful keepsakes for many, many people. Sunday School students and confirmands often received hardanger crosses or angels from her handiwork.

Myra was a member of MN Valley Lutheran Church for 73 years where she served many different roles - Sunday School teacher and superintendent, along with being a member and officer of the church women’s group known through the years as Ladies Aid, LCW, and WELCA.

Myra enjoyed being a member of a Bible study group that met in member’s homes and was together for many decades.  She was a long-time member of the Appleton American Legion Auxiliary and VFW Auxiliary. She also enjoyed playing bridge, working crossword puzzles, mowing the lawn, and in earlier years, tending a garden and flower beds. Every Christmas season she would make a large batch of lefse, as well as blood sausage, and give to friends and neighbors who enjoyed it.

Myra and Odin both loved music of many different types and encouraged their children to participate in learning and playing music, which all three of them did.

Myra loved life and loved her family, especially her three grandchildren. When Myra’s daughter, Phyllis, unexpectedly passed away, her young granddaughter, Elizabeth, spent several summers with her, being a second mother as best she could. Her house was filled with the latest artwork or letter from a grandchild.

Her husband, Odin, passed away on May 9, 1996, and Myra was able to stay in her home in Appleton until August of 2017 when she became a resident of the Appleton Care Center as a result of an increase in memory loss. Myra passed away peacefully on Monday, August 8, 2022, with family members by her side.

Myra is survived by her sons, Donald (Cindy) Lien of Plainview, MN; Dale Lien of Louisburg; grandchildren, Joseph (Amanda) Lien of Lake City, MN; Nicholas (Shannon) Lien of Farmington, MN; Elizabeth (Donn) Feezell of Sioux Falls, SD; Great grandchildren, Henrik and Jameson Lien, and Eleanor and Landonn Feezell; Brother, Kenneth Behl of Apple Valley, MN; and numerous nephews, nieces, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Odin, her daughter, Phyllis; brothers, Stanley, and Wilfred Behl; Sisters, Bernadine Pederson, and Laverda Behl; Brother-in-law Orville Pederson; and sisters-in-law, Sylvia, DeLaine, and Carole Behl.