Myrna R. Marso

Myrna Rae Marso, 73, of Dakota City, unexpectedly passed away on December 24, 2016 at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Visitation and a Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary memorial service will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday December 28 at Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday December 29 at Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt with Pastor Christy Ehrle officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Humboldt.

Myrna was born on October 25, 1943 in Algona, Iowa to Gordon and Lois (Gunderson) DeGroote. She lived on a farm near Rodman, Iowa with her parents and older sister Norma until she was four years old, when the family moved to a farm near Rutland. About a year later, Gordon and Lois welcomed a son, Stephen, but Lois died from childbirth complications. A year later, Gordon contracted polio, which paralyzed his legs and resulted in his hospitalization for about 13 months. During Gordon’s hospitalization, he met nurse Irene Burkhart whom he married in 1950. Gordon and Irene moved back to the Rutland farm along with Myrna, where she was raised. Norma and Stephen went to live with relatives in the Bode and Rutland areas, where they were raised. Gordon and Irene later welcomed a son, Dennis. Myrna attended country schools as well as schools in Rutland and Bradgate until her senior year when she attended Humboldt High School. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1961.

Following her education, Myrna worked for Cody’s Grocery Store and Hadar Manufacturing in Humboldt. On January 20, 1973, she was united in marriage to Douglas Marso. The couple made their home in Dakota City where they raised their two children, Stephen and Sarah. In approximately 1995, Doug and Myrna purchased the Broadway Inn in Humboldt, which they operated for 16 years. Myrna also worked for Opportunity Village until the time of her death.

Myrna was a loving and caring person who touched many people’s lives. She loved her family and friends, including her clients at Opportunity Village whom she treated as part of her family. She enjoyed following her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, feeding the wildlife in her backyard, and caring for her dog, Coco. Myrna was a faithful Christian, who especially loved the Christmas season. She had an extensive collection of Christmas ornaments and other collectibles that she enjoyed giving as gifts to her children and grandchildren. Myrna will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Myrna is survived by Doug Marso of Humboldt; her son, Steve (Laura) Marso of Urbandale; her daughter, Sarah (Jason) Lee of Ankeny; nine grandchildren: Kaden Marso, Ainsley Marso, Olivia Lee, Lucas Marso, Eva Lee, Mira Marso, Gretta Marso, Elsie Marso, and a granddaughter expected in March 2017; sister, Norma (Richard) Fuller of Clive; brothers, Steve (Connie) DeGroote of Terre Haute, IN, and Dennis (Susan) DeGroote of Barnett, MO; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Lois DeGroote, and stepmother, Irene DeGroote.