Marion L. Kaltvedt

Marion Lorraine Kaltvedt was born Feb. 3, 1922, in Sioux Falls, SD, and was lovingly adopted into the hearts and lives of Olaf and Hattie Myhre as their only child. To quote an article from The Estherville Enterprise, “Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Myhre wear a smile that won’t wear off since welcoming to their home last evening a little baby girl from the Lutheran Home at Sioux Falls. Little Marion is two months old and is a beautiful little lady.” Dated April 12, 1922.

She grew up on the Myhre homestead farm N.E. of Estherville where her grandfather Ole Myhre had settled after coming from Norway. Marion’s life was a full and happy one as she enjoyed life with her parents, friends, and many cousins riding her horse and having Farm Fun! She attended school in Estherville and graduated high school there.

She married Lester Kaltvedt March 10, 1940 and through the years was blessed with six children. To the delight of us all, in 1962 the folks bought a cottage on the East Shore of Spirit Lake and great memories were made with the many years of fun on the waters of Big Spirit! All of course only after the many summer chores were done on the farm such as the dreaded WALKING BEANS!!

Mom and Dad moved off the farm and lived in Estherville a few years before buying their home on East Okoboji where they have lived since 1976.

They bought a motor home and enjoyed some extensive traveling, including trips to Europe. The warm winter sun lured them to spend part of the year in Arizona which they enjoyed for over thirty years. They loved to entertain us all when we came to AZ which usually included a day’s trip to the mountains with a picnic at the lake! Each of the grandchildren was given the gift of a trip to AZ to celebrate their graduation from high school. That was quite an occasion in each of their lives!

Mom liked doing many kinds of “handwork” as well as watercolor painting. She was also an extensive reader. She enjoyed being a volunteer at the hospital until Dad became housebound. She cared for him in their home ht least two years of his life. We will always be grateful to her for that. We love you Mom and will hold you close in our hearts and memories!

Marion passed away on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at her home in Spirit Lake at eighty-three years of age.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Judy and Jim Valen of Spirit Lake, Karel and Sam Cannon of Dayton, OH, Holly and Albert Sherling of Estherville, IA, Robin and Rush Wierman of Phoenix, AZ; sons, Gene and Kay Kaltvedt of Estherville, IA, Larry Kaltvedt of Fountain Hills, AZ; grandchildren, Jeff Valen (Mieca), Jarrett Valen (Traci), Jennifer Dalton (Sean), Brett Kaltvedt (Tracy), B’ann Jones (Chris), Otis Kaltvedt, Kyle Kaufman (Chasity), Kristi Van Hauen (Terry) and Camy Dillard (Ron); seventeen great-grandchildren; brothers, Harold of Rockford, IL and Leon of Alexandria, MN.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lester; two great grandchildren, Stephen Dalton and Katie Kaufman.

MOM’S POEM
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the lord my soul to keep.
From the fairy like summer solstice
I feel the prayers reaching out
Into the pallid blue yonder.
From the sweet babies mouths
To the dear sweet little white heads,
I feel their prayers being received.
And from Jesus arms being spread
Back, warm, laid against my shoulders
and I am blessed.
Original poem by
Marion Kaltvedt
June 2005


CELEBRATION OF LIFE
MARION L. KALTVEDT
February 3, 1922 ~ October 19, 2005

SERVICES
Saturday, October 22, 2005 2:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
Spirit Lake, Iowa

CLERGY
Rev. David Bergstrom

MUSIC
Congregational Hymns
Lift High The Cross
In His Presence
Bind Us Together
Bob Floss, organist
Amazing Grace
Ron Knudtson, soloist

HONORARY BEARERS
Jeff Valen
Brett Kaltvedt
Kyle Kaufman
Jarrett Valen
B’ann Jones
Kristi Van Hauen
Jennifer Dalton
Otis Kaltvedt
Camy Dillard

INTERMENT
Estherville Lutheran Cemetery
Estherville, Iowa