Myra C. Sorlie

Myra Caroline Jenson Auntie Myke was born May 25, 1910, to James P. and Christine Christensen Jenson in Albert Lea Township. She attended District #110 and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1928. Myra had been employed as a secretary for American Gas Machine Co. and as a bookkeeper at the Albert Lea Surgical Medical Clinic. On May 1, 1939, she was united in marriage to Herman E. Sorlie at Trinity Lutheran Church. Myra lived for 60 years on Sorlie Acres in Hartland Township before moving to St. John's in 1999. She was a member of North Freeborn Lutheran Church and later Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, where she was active as a Sunday school teacher and in Mission Circle. Myra was an avid genealogist, historian, and writer, writing a family history of the Christensen-Jenson and Sorlie families. She was an avid hat collector and often gave presentations on "A Century of Fashion," featuring her hats. One of the highlights of Myra's life was a trip to Scandinavia visiting her families' homestead in Bakkerup, Denmark. She did much of the research for her family history there. Survivors include her son, John and his wife, Nancy Sorlie of Albert Lea; granddaughter, Jennifer Sorlie; sisters, Shirley Conn of Alden and Merlene Nelson of Faribault; special nephew, Ronald Jenson; special nieces: Carol Jenson, PhD, Virginia Nagel, Judi Kalstad, Linda Bryson, Betsy Burns, Pat Brown, Carolyn Fritz, Joanne Heintz, Alice Schultz, Margaret Wolf, and Ann Marie Troska; and many other nieces and nephews. Myra was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Herman; sisters: Stella, Ann, and Bernice; and brothers: Harry, Elmer, Ronald, Lumen, Clive, Foster, and James. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Myra's family wishes to thank the staff of St. John's Lutheran Home for their loving care over the past 7 years. Blessed be the life and memory of Myra.