Services for Myrtle Merkel, 80, of Groton will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 23rd at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton.  Rev. Craig Grams will officiate.  Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen.
• Visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 6:00 p.m.
• Myrtle died April 18, 2013 at Golden Living Center, Groton. 
• Myrtle Opal was born on March 22, 1933 in LaMoure County, North Dakota to Kasper and Agnes (Christoperson) Martinson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Ponama Valley Church. 

Myrtle attended country school and graduated from Kulm High School in 1951.  She worked for several years at the cafeteria in Ellendale.  On December 7, 1953 she united in marriage with Llewellyn Merkel in Webster, SD and together they made their home in Groton.  Myrtle worked at the nursing home in Groton for 26 years.
• Myrtle was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton.  She enjoyed gardening, baking pies and embroidering dish towels and baby blankets.   
• Celebrating her life are her children, Terry "Ralph" (Roxie) Merkel of Groton; Bruce (Pam) Merkel of Andover; Mary (Bob) Slaba of Canby, MN; Curtis (Janel) Merkel of Aberdeen; Allan Merkel of Claremont, 13 grandchildren, 2 strep grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and 4 step great-grandchildren.
• Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, 6 brothers, 2 sisters and one granddaughter.
• Honorary Casketbearers will be all of Myrtle's grandchildren.
• Casketbearers will be Lanny Merkel, Brett Merkel, Michael Slaba, Matthew Slaba, Jacob Merkel, Lucas Merkel, Austin Merkel and Alan Vietmeier.

Ruth Thompson, 87, of Groton died Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Sun Dial Manor in Bristol.  Services are pending with Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.