Myrtle Gislason

In the morning hours of Monday, December 12, 2022, Myrtle Irene Gislason, a Matanuska Valley pioneer, died in her home, entering her eternal rest. She was born June 14, 1918, in Beaulieu, North Dakota, the fourth of seven sisters and one brother to William and Clara Montpetit. Early in her life she listened to the gospel of Jesus and gave her life commitment to serving Him with her all to the end of this life. She spent the first years of her life working beside her father learning all about farming. In 1936 at eighteen she married Johannes (Joe) Gislason. They eventually moved to Alaska, first to work on the Alaska Railroad at the Sherman and Colorado stations. Their son, Gary, and daughter, Joyce, joined them there. In 1947 the family moved to Wasilla and bought a Colony farm and home on Fairview Loop which is still the family home today. Each summer the family welcomes the fellowship for a four-day convention at the farm.

Joe and Myrtle worked on the two-hundred-acre farm, first growing various vegetables, then potatoes and lastly establishing a dairy. Much love and hard work went into their efforts in developing the land into a profitable effort. Sadly, in August 1959, Joe died in Myrtle’s arms from a farm accident. Myrtle managed the farm with her son and daughter that first winter without Joe. In the spring she formed a partnership with her neighbors and good friends, Bob and Merlie McCombs. The new endeavor was named Fairview Dairies. The partners all retired in 1974. Myrtle was then free to do some traveling, often visiting family and friends on both coasts, and abroad to the Orient, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Israel and Barbados.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents William and Clara Montpetit, her husband Joe, her son Gary Gislason, six sisters, Bernice Taylor, Beatrice Maltby, Ethel Magnus, Lillian Hatch, Alice Murr, Hazel Vardaro and her brother William Montpetit. They all loved being together, laughing and remembering their years growing up and supporting each other in need, especially during World War II. Their children loved hearing their stories of living on the farm in North Dakota.

She is survived by her daughter Joyce Gislason (Wasilla), daughter-in-law Sarah Gislason (Salem, OR.), grandchildren Eric Gislason (Sara) (Seattle, WA) and Lisa Hylton(Clarke) (Salem, OR), greatgrandchildren Clare and Katherine Gislason and Aria Hylton, nephews Don Magnus, John, William and Bruce Vardaro, nieces Linda White, Diana Maltby, Cheryl Schachle, Patrice Marlow and Jeanne Vardaro-Harris, as well as many great nephews, nieces and cousins and friends throughout the world, all who loved her immensely.

There is a graveside service where Myrtle will be buried beside her beloved husband, Joe, on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at two o’clock at the Wasilla Aurora Cemetery, 1096 Fish-hook Road, Wasilla. Family and friends of Myrtle will gather there to say goodbye to a loving and faithful life. A reception luncheon will follow at the family farm at 3800 E Fairview Loop. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alaska Farmland Trust. Funeral arrangements are made by Janssen Matsu Funeral Home.