The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

After a short illness Myrtle Maude Wilson passed away at the Coulee Medical Center Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. She was born July 15, 1917, at Emmett McLean Co., N.D., to Roy and Margaret Rosseau Wilson. She said "It was during the horse and buggy days."

She grew up and graduated high school McLean Co., N.D., with her siblings Mernice Doris, Pattie, Edwin and Earl.

She married her husband Cecil L. Wilson at Fairview Richland Co., Mont., on November 23, 1936. That was 67 years before he passed away. They lived on a ranch at Garrison, N.D., until Garrison Dam was built and their ranch was taken from them by the federal government. During that time they had six children: Roy, Jack, Don, Cecil Jr. (Buster), Patricia (Pattie) Branchfield and Joyce Manville. Five have preceded her in death.

Cecil and Myrtle practically lived on horses and used them for most transportation. Myrtle rode horses very well and barrel raced at the rodeos. They raised cattle and pigs in addition to the six children. After the loss of their ranch Cecil began working as a carpenter for dam construction. That meant moving the entire family across the Northwest for each new job.

Myrtle always raised a garden. She canned, baked and cooked fruits and vegetables all of her years to feed the family; and later Cecil and herself. She would make apple pies by the dozens; freeze them and baked them to be eaten hot out of the oven all winter.

They settled at Grand Coulee Dam during the construction of the third powerhouse in the 1970s. They lived at a small farm at Lone Pine and continued to ride, buy and sell horses. Myrtle purchased and ran the Alpine Restaurant by the bridge downriver from the dam. She was the manager and the cook.

After retirement they moved to Soap Lake, Wash., to be close to son Jack and his family. Then in the year 2000 when Cecil was 93 and she was 83 they moved back to Grand Coulee, Wash. She cared for Cecil until he passed away March 2004 at the age of 97. She continued to live at Grand Coulee for the next 10 years until she also passed away January 2015 at the age of 97.

They had ridden the Pasayten Wilderness many times while they lived at Grand Coulee Dam. Cecil's ashes wait for Myrtle's and they will be released together in this land that they loved.

Myrtle is survived by grandson Troy Wilson, who cared for her during her last years and other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.