Sunday, March 17, 2013

Myrtle Boylan

 Myrtle Boylan Wasden


  • born 10June 1875 in Fort Dodge, Iowa
  • died 13 May 1957 in Rexburg, Idaho
  • grew up as a Methodist, joined the church when she was 30 years old in 1906
  • served as the 7th Relief Society of the Salem ward
  • was very cultured and educated









The obituary of Myrtle Boylan Wasden
Given by Barry Wasden and compiles by his Mother, Mrs. Leonard Wasden

Myrtle Boylan Wasden was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, June 10, 1876, a daughter of Mary Strong and Henry Bryant Boylan.  Her parents were humble but genteel and feared  no effort in providing every advantage for their family.  Two younger brothers completed the family circle and when they were old enough for school the family moved to Palmeroy Iowa, and then to Cedar Rapids, Nebraska where she graduated from high school in 1894, an accomplishment very rare at that time.  When she was 18 years of age the family moved to Pason, Utah and her mother re-established her millinery and dress making shop, a business in which she was well established and very talented. 
At Pason Myrtle attended a Methodist school and also willingly assisted in the shop and in the home.  This was her first contact with the Latter-day Saints and they soon began to investigate their religion and to attend their meetings.  About this time the family moved to Gunnison, Utah, where she met the Mormon boy who later became her husband.  She was married to Willard Washington Wasden on May 5, 1898, in Gunnison, Utah, by Bishop C.A. Madson.  At this time to this union two sons were born, Harold A. and Fay E.
In the spring of 1900 they moved to Soda Springs, Idaho, traveling the entire distance from Gunnison in a wagon.  During the next few years she courageously established homes in St. Anthony and Ashton while Willard operated a sawmill at Cuinnard creek.  In 1903 they moved to Salem, Idaho where they engaged successfully in farming and stock raising figuring prominently in the pioneering of the Upper Snake River Valley.
Myrtle had been raised in culture and refinement and if she found the strenuous exacting sacrifices of the pioneering and farm life to demanding no one was aware of it.  She performed miracles in her gracious way, and no task however menial was a burden.  She arose magnificently to the challenging tasks of soap making, butter and cheese making and carding and weaving wool for quilts and quilting.
Two more sons, Leonard O. and Virgil E. were welcomed, but Virgil only lived five days.  Her grief and loneliness at his loss was somewhat a swayed when in the fall of that same year 1906 she was baptized into the Latter-day Saint church by Bishop B.R. Harris of the Salem ward.  She took an active part in community affairs and after her baptism became a very faithful and energetic worker in the church.  She had an undeniable testimony of the gospel and her fail was absolute.  All her life she displayed an utter trust and dependence in the power of the priesthood.  During the next happy eventful years two more sons, W. Lowell and John J. and two daughters May and Olive, blessed their home.  Myrtles faith and devotion and loving courage never failed.
She was a wonderful mother to her children.  Always indulgent and forever interested in everything they did.  Their joys and happiness were hers also and she was also their friend.  She made no compromise with evil and held a firm hand on her family forever exhorting them to do right and counseling them against anything wrong.  Her mother’s love reached out to include any and all who need her.  For many years she was a mother and friend of Willard’s baby brother and sister who had the privilege of her warm hospitality while attending school at Ricks Academy.  Years later she cared lovingly for two granddaughters for several years while their father was establishing a new home.
Her energy and strength was endless and she would walk miles and never tire.  It was a common sight to see her walking the one and one half miles to church pushing a baby in the buggy and leading another by the hand in order to fulfill her assignment in the Primary or Relief Society.  She served in the Primary, the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, the Relief Society and the Genealogical Society,  she would rise from a sick bed to serve someone or keep an appointment often she visited the home where death had entered, comforted those in need and assisted in laying out the dead ad dressing them for burial.
On April 5, 1922, a cherished dream came true when she journeyed to Salt Lake City with Willard and family and there had the privilege of having their marriage solemnized in the temple and their children sealed to them.  In 1930 they moved to Rexburg where she has since resided and for nineteen years she has been active as a visiting teacher in the relief society.
On Jan. 9, 1950 Willard died and her love and devotion was manifested when during this last illness she refused to leave his bedside, but served him night and day with tenderness and patience.
Myrtle passed away at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 13, 1957, after a lingering illness just a few weeks before her 81st birthday.  She has been guiding light to us these many years and now she has gone on and as our time will come to go into the next phase of life we feel with great confidence that she will be there to take us by the hand and to help us, and to once again be with her loved ones who are dead.  This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

This picture lists Myrtle and Lillian

Photo of Myrtle as a young girl going to a  costume party.  It amazes me as I look at this picture how I can see so many Wasden relatives to resemble her.





No comments:

Post a Comment