Myrna Rachael Ruby Harwood , along with her twin brother Myrun, was born at the family homestead on the Harwood Flat near Boneita Springs, SD, on January 5, 1911. She attended Hope Elementary School on the Harwood Flat and then Sturgis High School, graduating in 1928. She subsequently attended Black Hills Teacher's College where she earned her first grade Teacher's Certificate.

Myrna taught school for 3 years at rural schools. One of those schools was the Strong School located on the prairie south of Union Center. One winter day, Myrna had the wisdom to not allow any of the children to go home at the end of the day when a blizzard appeared imminent. She instead kept the children, bringing a large supply of coal into the school house, in preparation for spending the night. Sure enough, a howling blizzard raged all night, but abated by morning when the children's parents came to take them home. She subsequently gave up her teaching career to live at home as a caretaker for her father. In the early 1950's, she and her father moved from the farm to a new home on west Deadwood Avenue in Sturgis, where she continued to care for her father. She also found time to work as a desk clerk at the Fruth Hotel, she then began working as an aid and later as a receptionist at the Sturgis Community Memorial Hospital where she worked for approximately 20 years. Myrna never learned to drive a car, so she walked to and from work every day regardless of the weather, giving testament to her tough pioneer spirit and her dedication. After retiring from work at the hospital, she continued to keep herself busy with babysitting for family and friends, and with her hobby of gardening and raising flowers.

Myrna of Sturgis passed away Sunday, January 3, 2016, at the Massa Unit of the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center. She was 104 years old, just 2 days short of her 105th birthday.

Myrna never married and is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Myrna was preceded in death by her parents, five siblings, three sisters and two brothers.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Committal services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at the Boneita Springs Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Boneita Springs Church or the cemetery.

Click on link to view service folder