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By Rachel Kytonen
rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com
She has a skip in her step, is wise as an owl and is busy as a bee—and she’s turning 90 years old this Friday.
Friends and family of Myrtle Telstad invite the public to an open house in her honor on Friday, June 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Elmhurst Commons Dining Room, 400 SW. 3rd St., in Braham.
Telstad, born June 12, 1919, was raised in Grasston, and is the last living sibling out of her three sisters and two brothers.
Her roots run deep in the Grasston area, noting her grandfather, John Swan, built the Swan Hotel in Grasston.
Telstad graduated from Grasston in 1936 and married Leonard Telstad on January 1, 1942, and lived on a farm west of Grasston.
Together they had three children: daughter Kathy born in 1944 and sons John, born in 1948 and LeRoy, born in 1950.
Pictured: Myrtle Telstad and her son John share memories together during an afternoon visit on Monday, June 8, at her apartment in Elmhurst Commons in Braham. (Photo by Rachel Kytonen)
Telstad enjoyed being a mother.
“We had a lot of good times,” Telstad said. “My husband was a very happy person, and we got along great with our neighbors.”
John added, “I had a lot of fun as a child. I often say we lived in the best neighborhood in the country.”
A testament to the goodness of their neighborhood was evident when a tornado struck in 1952, ripping the roof on their barn and destroying 18 trees.
“Everyone from our church and neighborhood showed up to help us clean up,” Telstad said.
Teaching career
Telstad began her teaching career in 1938 and taught in several country schools including Day and Brunswick—only taking a break from 1944 to 1958—to raise her children.
Telstad returned to teaching in 1958, and moved to Braham to begin teaching in the school district.
She was the first special education teacher hired for the high school, and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1981.
“I made sure those kids I taught received diplomas,” Telstad said. “Up until that point they were only receiving certificates of attendance. Fortunately, the school board was receptive to the idea of giving them diplomas.”
Telstad received Minnesota Teacher of the Year honors in 1977 and 1979.
Hobbies, interests
Telstad likes to go bowling, and has held many roles at Hope Lutheran in Grasston including organist, choir director and Sunday School teacher.
Telstad currently attends Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church.
She has sung at over 100 funerals and countless weddings, and John noted, “she still has a beautiful voice.”
Together with two others, Telstad put together a Grasston history book in honor of its centennial.
Even though Leonard passed away in 1992, Telstad took care of the family’s cabin on Rush Lake until she was 82.
At age 62, Telstad took swimming lessons for the first time due to the amount of kids living in the area, and she wanted to be able to help in case of an emergency.
And at age 75, she went inner-tubing on Rush Lake.
“She’s game to try anything,” John noted.
The lake cabin remains in the family, as John’s family now takes care of it.
Telstad moved into Elmhurst Commons about six years ago.
Telstad said she’s lucky to have gone on wonderful vacations including trips to Cancun, Washington, D.C., Reno, Nev. and Hawaii.
John added while out in Hawaii for his son’s wedding, his mother, age 85 at the time, flew around Hawaii in a helicopter, and went swimming in the ocean.
Telstad has four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
About a month ago, she became a great-great grandmother.
John’s wife Karen said, “I won the lottery when I got Myrtle as my mother-in-law.”
Caring heart
What many admire about Telstad is her caring spirit.
“She’s having a wonderful life,” John said. “She’s a giver. She always makes sure everyone’s comfortable before she is. The kids she taught continue to stop by and see her.”
When asked how he’d describe his mother, John said with no hesitation, “the greatest. We are very blessed.”
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