Myrtle E. (Sjostrom) Rhodes
Marriages
Harold Rhodes - October 1, 1955
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - December 27, 2016
Myrtle E. Rhodes, of Hayden, died Dec. 22, 2016, at the Doak Walker House at Casey's Pond. Services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 30 at the Hayden Congregational Church. Interment will follow in Hayden Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to The Haven in care of Grant Mortuary.
Steamboat Today - January 7, 2017
1923 - 2016
Myrtle was born on January 6, 1923, on a homestead north of Hayden, to Victor Sjostrom and Mathilda Johanson Sjostrom. She was the youngest of 4 siblings. Her parents were Swedish immigrants, and until age 5, Myrtle spoke Swedish as her first language. Myrtle loved her life on the ranch and was deeply devoted to her siblings and her family. Her older brother, Carl, learned to play the violin from their Uncle John Sjostrom, and Carl encouraged Myrtle to learn to play the guitar, so they could play together. When Myrtle was 16, she and her brother started playing at country dances, and did this until both of them were in their 60's. Myrtle married Harold Rhodes on October 1, 1955, and became part of the hardworking, loving Rhodes family. Harold and Myrtle had two daughters, Rita and Linda. Myrtle was very happy on the ranch south of Hayden; she raised chickens, rode horses, helped with branding cattle, and did all the other work necessary in a ranch life. She was always a devoted Mother, Wife, Sister and Aunt. With Harold's passing in 1989, Myrtle moved to a house in Hayden and learned to play the piano in her 70's. For the first time in her life, she could read music by sight. Myrtle was the SecretaryTreasurer of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Hayden for over 30 years, a member of the Hayden Quilters for about 30 years, and was proud to be a member of the Hayden Congregational Women's Fellowship and Church. In 2006, she moved to Phippsburg, Colorado, to live with her daughter and family. Rita, Mike and Ryan enjoyed those years, and shared many laughs with Myrtle; she loved humor and used it well. In 2008, Myrtle moved to The Haven Assisted Living Center in Hayden, Colorado. The staff at The Haven were very loving, kind and patient with Myrtle and they made her last 8 years very happy ones. Myrtle passed away on December 22, 2016, at the Doak Walker Center at Casey's Pond, after a very brief illness. She was 15 days from her 94th birthday. Preceding Myrtle in death are her parents, her husband, Harold and all of the Rhodes brothers. She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Mildred Lowe, Elin Carns, and Carl Sjostrom and her nephew, Bobby Chatfield. She is survived by her daughters, Rita Rhodes (Mike Jeep) of Phippsburg,Colorado and Linda Renfro (Rod Renfro) of Grand Junction, Colorado. She had four grandchildren: Cassondra Renfro, Jason Jeep, Robyn Jeep, and Ryan Jeep. Myrtle is also survived by many devoted nieces, nephews and their families, who gave her much love and joy. Donations in Memory of Myrtle can be made to The Haven Assisted Living Center in Hayden, Colorado.
