Myrtle L. Westby,  97, of New Rockford, ND, formerly of Maddock, ND, passed away on October 17, 2010 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford, ND where she had been a resident since March of 2006.  Visitation will be Sunday from 4-7pm at the Nelson Funeral Home in Maddock and Monday an hour before the service.  Funeral services will be held Monday, November 1, 2010, at 3:00 pm, at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd Chapel in New Rockford officiated by Pastor Debra Lommen  with a eulogy from Tami Hipp.   Music provided by Beth and Bob Kanzelman with Doreen Taylor, organist.  Casket bearers will be: Bob Kanzelman, Keith Howard, Dan Howard, Tony Hipp, Darin Howard, and Jake Hipp.  Burial will take place in the Flora Cemetery, Flora, ND.

Myrtle Luella Halvorson was born in Eddy County, east of Sheyenne, ND to Julius and Anna Halvorson on July 19, 1913.  She attended rural school.  Myrtle married Willrich (Bill) Kanzelman on November 22, 1931.  They  had 4 children:  Erlin, Darwyn, Phillip and Phyllis.  The couple farmed east of Flora and worked for Dick Pope. After Bill's death in 1961, she moved to Portland, OR and worked in a department store, returning in the fall of 1962.  She started a new business in Sheyenne called the Tastee Freeze, which she opened in 1964 and sold in 1967 when her son Erlin became seriously ill.  Over the next years, she worked at the Maddock Creamery, the Haukness Department Store and cooked for the Maddock school.  She married Irwin Westby on January 27, 1971. They built a new home and farmed outside of Maddock.  During the following years she sold Sarah Coventry jewelry and Shaklee products.  She enjoyed gardening, bowling, square dancing, painting, quilting, camping, fishing, and especially spending time with her family.  Myrtle was a member of the Flora Luthern Church and ladies-aid until joining North Viking Church and its WELCA  in Maddock.  She was a longtime member of the Flora Homemakers and the Sons of Norway.

She is survived by a son:  Darwyn (Faye) Kanzelman of New Rockford, ND;  a daughter: Phyllis Meier of Portland, OR;  brothers: Mayo (Bertha) Halvorson of Billings, MT and Gene (Betty Jo) Halvorson of Sandy, OR; a sister: Velva Reese of Aloha, OR; and 2 sister-in-laws: Phyllis & Ella Halvorson.  She is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Steve Howard, Kelly Swinney, Tami Hipp, Keith Howard, Cindy Kanzelman, Kevin Kanzelman, Dan Howard, Bob Kanzelman, and Blaine Kanzelman; 16 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; sons: Erlin and Phillip; grandsons: Mike Kanzelman and Bill Howard;  brothers: Clarence (Bud) and Francis Halvorson; and sisters: Doris Martin and Ruby Sullins.