Muriel 'Myrt' Jeneve Hazel Granrud

Muriel "Myrt" Jeneve Hazel (Nygaard) Granrud, a former resident of Opheim, passed away of natural causes at age 88 on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, in Post Falls, Idaho. A memorial service will be held in May at the Opheim Lutheran Church with inurnment at Opheim Lawndale Cemetery.

She was born Aug. 3, 1926, in Columbus, N.D., to Carl and Cora (Barduson) Nygaard. She was the oldest of six children and attended school at Bonsness Elementary in Burke County.

She married Evan Granrud on Sept. 25, 1946, in Plentywood. They had two daughters, Julie and Sandra. The family lived in Portal, N.D., until 1951, when they moved to Glentana, and then later to Opheim where they became life-long residents.

She was a stay-at-home mom but worked as Evan's assistant in his many side projects or businesses. Throughout the years, these included managing Evan's Bar and Grill in Glentana and the bowling alley in Opheim, raising chickens, painting barn roofs, remodeling kitchens, custom swathing and installing satellite TV dishes. She was a talented singer and musician. She played rhythm guitar from age 13 in a band with her uncle and later with Evan in a country western band called the Montana Plainsmen. She was a Kitty Wells fan and sang many of her songs. After her daughters left for college, she worked as a cook at the Opheim School and Opheim Radar Site.

Her proudest business achievement was the Lefse Shack that she, Evan and Arlene Larson launched in 1977. Using her mom's recipe for the Norwegian holiday treat and Evan's inventions for rolling and cooling, she, Evan and their crew of 13 ran the business for 19 years. Upon retirement, the couple lived in Opheim until 2006 when they moved to Nemont Manor in Glasgow. In 2010, they moved to Guardian Angel Assisted Living in Post Falls, Idaho, to be closer to their daughters.

She was active in the Lutheran Church, Community Club and Senior Citizens. She was named "Opheim Senior Citizen of the Year" in 2002.

The coffee was always on at Myrt's house and everyone was treated to her delicious donuts or a Scandinavian treat such as kringler, fattigmann, or hardanger lefse, known to her grandkids as "peanut butter lefse." She loved bowling, gardening, golfing and reading. She loved to visit and the couple had many friends. She was never happier than when she was surrounded by her daughters and their families.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Evan, and a brother, Chet.

Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Stellflug, and Julie Davey and her husband, Rich; two sisters, Carole Stolen and her husband, Andy, and Corenne Pettit and her husband, Les; two brothers, DeVern Nygaard and his wife, Polly, and Terry Nygaard and his wife, Linda; six grandchildren, Kim Stellflug, Kon Stellflug and his wife, Maria, Kari Carbajal and her husband, Jim, Tracy Davey and his wife, Janelle, Blaine Davey and his wife, Nickie, and Aaron Davey and his wife, Terra; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Condolences can be mailed to the family at 200 W. Choctaw Ave., Post Falls, ID 83854. Memorials are suggested to the Opheim Lutheran Church or North Idaho Hospice House at 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.