Myrtle Tukua

The Funeral Service for Myrtle Tukua will be held at 11:00 A.M. on

Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Hartland. The Reverend Dennis Frank and Reverend Kent Otterman will officiate. Interment will be in Hartland Cemetery . Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church. Myrtle died on Monday, March 30, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Center in Albert Lea , where she had received very compassionate care. She was 87. She was born on June 8, 1921, in Ransom County , North Dakota the daughter of Emil J. and Lena (Johnson) Hatle. Both Myrtle’s parents had died before she reached the age of 14. She was fortunate to have caring, responsible, older siblings who helped to care and nuture her through her teen years. She graduated from high school in North Dakota , where she had played basketball, serving as captain of her team. In 1939 she moved back to Freeborn County , as it was the birthplace of her parents. She soon began working for Johnson Laundry and later had worked for NRHEG as a cook for several years. On June 30, 1947, she was united in marriage to Eugene M. Tukua at the parsonage in Hartland. They made their home in Hartland. She was a member of West Freeborn Lutheran Church until joining

Cross of Glory Lutheran in Hartland in 1969, where she had served on the Altar Guild and was active in Ladies Aid. She participated as an officer of the Legion Auxiliary, and in her “Golden Years” enjoyed the Hartland Senior Citizens group and had great passion for bingo. She so appreciated socializing with others. The death of her parents at such a young age gave Myrtle a keen sense of, family and she lived her life loving, caring for, and holding her family close.

Myrtle is survived by three children: Ellen and her husband Richard Chicos of

New Richland , Karen Bergner of Mankato , and Gene M. Tukua and his wife Karla of Hartland; eight grandchildren: Jennifer (Andy) Paulson of Mankato , Marcus Bergner of Sartell, Jay (Dana) Bergner of Rocheseter , MN , Abbie Bergner and her Fiancé Nick Kramer of Rice, MN, Aaron (Lara) Chicos of Hartland, Anne ( Lowell ) Siewert of Brooklyn Park , MN , Naomi (Chris) Mortensen of Mankato , Seth Tukua of Hartland; great grandchildren: Hannah Bergner, Ty and Nora Beth Bergner, Cody Paulson, Delanie and Amelia Siewert, Riley Chicos, and Audyn Mortensen; brother Merle Hatle of Adams, MN, brother-in-law Ellsworth Tukua of Hartland, sister-in-law Oriole Tukua of Hartland and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Eugene in 2003, sisters Agnes (Gullick) Boe, Ella (Henry) Himebaugh, Gladys (Gunther) Moen, brothers John (Margaret) Hatle, Clarence Hatle and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.