Funeral services will be 11am, Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at First Lutheran Church in St. James.

Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-8pm at Sturm Funeral Home in St. James and will continue 1 hour before services at the church on Wednesday.

You may send the family condolences online at www.sturmfh.com

Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James.

Myrna Jean Blackstad passed away December 16th, 2017, just 4 days short of her 84th birthday in Rochester, MN with her children by her side.

Myrna was born in Long Lake township to Alfred and Emma Hoffman and baptized by Pastor Birkholz at her parents’ home on January 7th, 1934. She attended Triumph-Monterey High School where she graduated in 1951. She then moved to Darfur with her family where her dad farmed. After graduation she worked at Sward Kemp in Saint James where she made many lifelong friends. She then met Obert Blackstad, who she would marry September 2nd, 1956 at St. John’s Lutheran in Darfur, MN. She would spend the next 57 years by his side at the Blackstad family farm, raising their children Mary and Tom, taking care of the 3,000 chickens, and being a true farmer’s wife.

Myrna lived a good life with good people surrounding her and caring for her. Her love for telling stories, her daily phone calls, doing her word find puzzles, going to church and enjoying Sunday breakfast with friends, and her love for joy rides are just some of the things that she will be remembered for the most. While on this earth, she was the watchful eye and always knew who was coming and going (and checking with Tom as to whose white truck just pulled in the yard). We know she now has the greatest view to watch over Highway 4 and will know whose loud semi drives by at 3 a.m. with all the lights on it.

Myrna is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Mary and Glenn Runge and son Tom Blackstad, all of Saint James, three grandchildren Scott (Samantha) Runge of Saint James, Sara Runge (Samuel Cyrus) of Thousand Oaks, CA, Susan (Dan) Bottin of Saint James, five great-grandchildren Jacob, Keeley, and Katelyn Runge and Emma and Harper Bottin, sister-in-law Lorraine Hoffman, nephew Larry Hoffman, niece Lisa Krahn, the Nesseth and Simonsen families, her faithful friends Phyllis & Elaine and many dear cousins and friends who were just a phone call away.

When Myrna passed on to the greater life, she was greeted by her beloved husband who has been waiting patiently for her to arrive, Obert Blackstad, parents Alfred and Emma Hoffman, mother and father-in-law Ole G and Marie Blackstad, brother Marvin Hoffman, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mayme & Benny Pagenkopf, an infant son, and many other dear friends and family.

Blessed be Myrna’s memory.

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]