Merlyn Hvidston

Merlyn Hvidston died October 3, 2016 at Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead, MN. She was born April 4, 1923 in Fargo, ND, the oldest of six daughters of Dr. and Mrs. O.T. Olson. The family moved from Mayville, ND., to Fargo, ND., when she was a young child. She graduated from Oak Grove High School in Fargo, ND, and Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Following college graduation, she taught at Kindred, ND., Morton, MN., and Excelsior, MN. While at Excelsior she married John Gibson, and a son was born.

During the 1950’s polio epidemic, both she and her husband contracted polio, from which he died after a very short illness in 1952. Following her recovery, she worked as a church secretary. In 1955, she married Alden “Hvid” Hvidston. His Seminary internship was in California where their son Andrew was born. Following her husband’s graduation from Seminary, they moved to Ridgeway, IA, where their daughter Ruth was born. Subsequently they lived in Park Ridge, IL, Moorhead, MN, Indianapolis, IN, Alexandria, LA, and Gurnee, IL. While living in Moorhead she was a home-bound tutor. She received her 5th year teaching certificate at MSUM and was an elementary librarian in Fargo. After leaving Moorhead she had a variety of office positions. Following their retirement, they returned to Moorhead and a lake home in Park Rapids, MN.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, parents and sisters, Audrey Hagen, T. Janet Olson, Blanche Kellerman and Carolyn Stutrud.

She is survived by her husband; sons, David Carol of Laramie, WY., Andrew Laura of Fargo, ND; daughter, Ruth Scott Johnson Hvidston of Minneapolis, MN; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Rachel Johnson.

The family would like to thank the staff of 2nd floor at Eventide for the care Merlyn received.

Memorial service will be Thursday, October 6, at 4:00 P.M., in The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN.
Memorial gathering will be one hour prior to the service in the church.

Interment will be at Prairie Home Cemetery Columbarium, Moorhead, MN.