Myrtle Ovidia Dahl, the 10th and youngest child of Lewis & Anna Dahl, was born in rural Norman County, a few miles from Borup, Minnesota on February 8, 1913. THIS DOCUMENT is a copy of a page of the Jevnaker Church births and baptisms that lists her, her parents and Godparents. (note the misspelling of her middle name)
She grew up on the family farm with her parents and nine older siblings, Minnie, Henry, Clara, Anton, Emma, Marie, Theodore, Inga, and Luella. In her youth she did what she could to help her mother and older sisters, and learned food preparation and how to sew clothing for herself and others. At times she helped her father and brothers with field work and care of their farm livestock. These skills that would prove very helpful to her as an adult.
Sadly, Myrtle’s father died when she was just twelve years old, leaving her mother and older brothers to manage the family farm.
She attended school in nearby Borup and graduated from high school in 1931. She was proud to be the “jumping center” on the Borup High School girls basketball team.
After finishing high school, Myrtle stayed on the farm helping her mother. It is likely that she also helped her sister, Luella, who had fallen and bumped her head when she was about two years old, resulting in some learning and behavior challenges.
In the summer of 1936, her brother, Ted, hired a young man from Roseau County to work as a “hired hand” on the farm. Ted’s wife, Mabel, knew this fellow, Omer Espe, from attending the same country church. Omer and Myrtle started dating that summer, even though she was more than four years older than him.
In the fall of 1937, Myrtle worked for an elderly couple in Minneapolis for a short period of time. Her boyfriend, Omer, found work at a business that packed and sold pickled herring in the same city. They became engaged and decided to marry the following April.
She married Omer Espe on Sunday, April 24, 1938. Myrtle’s story continues with Omer on THIS PAGE.
Myrtle was a wonderful God fearing mother and grandmother who cared deeply about, and prayed regularly for the physical and spiritual well being of everyone she knew, but especially her descendants. She excelled in cooking and baking. Her kitchen was small and doubled as the dining room. She thrived on having family members gathered around her table, which was often so full of people that she would eat her meal while standing at the counter after being certain everyone else was fed. She was a skilled gardener and home maker, keeping their home a pleasant place to live.
She developed dementia the last few years of her life, and was living at Sheltering Oaks Manor in Roseau when she was called home by her Lord and Savior on May 29, 2002, at the age of 89.
Obituary of Myrtle Ovidia Espe – from Roseau Times Region
Myrtle Ovidia Dahl, daughter of Lewis and Anna (Grensbraaten) Dahl, was born Feb. 8, 1913 at Borup. She was raised and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Jevnaker Church in rural Borup.
After graduating from Borup High School, Myrtle worked for a time in both Fargo, N.D. and Minneapolis.
Myrtle married Omer Espe on April 24, 1938 at the home of her sister near Ada. She lived in Roseau County the remainder of her life.
She raised a family and helped her husband farm in Beaver Township for many years. They moved to Roseau in 1963.
Myrtle was employed at Eventide Home and the Roseau Children’s Home.
They were members of Salem Lutheran Church in Malung and later attended Bethel Mission Covenant Church. When they moved to Roseau, they became members of the Roseau Evangelical Covenant Church.
Myrtle was active in the Salem Ladies Aid, the Covenant Women Ministries and as a Sunday School teacher.
She enjoyed spending time with family and enjoyed gardening, baking, cooking, picking berries and singing.
Myrtle died May 29, 2002 at Sheltering Oaks Manor in Roseau.
Myrtle is survived by her husband, Omer; children Glen (Marjorie) Espe of Thief River Falls, Marvin (Myrna) Espe of Solon Springs, Wisc., Duane (Linda) Espe of Roseau, Evadell (Paul) Tangquist of Thief River Falls, Milo (Judith) of Roseau, Edgar (Charlotte) of Bemidji and Sheldon (Valeria) of Roseau; 22 grand children and 31 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Minnie Eastvold, Clara Eastvold, Emma Rage/Helgemoe, Marie Hanson, Inga Holmsten and Luella Dahl and brothers Henry Dahl, Anton Dahl and Theodore Dahl and granddaughter Sarah Tangquist.
