Surnames: Kyle, Naslund, Johnson, Rueth, Hebert

----Source: Loyal TRG 25 February 2009

Kyle, Erma C. (5 MAR 1922 - 21 FEB 2009)

Erma C. Kyle, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, after a brief illness. Visitation will be at the First United Methodist Church, Madison, on Sunday, March 1, from 1 p.m. until time of a memorial service at 2 p.m.

Erma C. Naslund was born on March 5, 1922, in Galva, Iowa, to Clarence and Agnes (nee Johnson) Naslund. There were two boys born this union. Earl, in March 1930, and Clarence Jr., in January 1932. The family lived for 10 years at Truesdale, Iowa. In 1937, they moved to the Galva area where she graduated from the Galva Consolidated High School in 1939 with high honors. She attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, for two years, earning a teaching certificate. She taught school for two years, one at Krikman, Iowa, and one year at Arthur, Iowa. On June 5, 1943, she and Anthony (Tony) Kyle were married at the bride’s home near Galva, Iowa. She would have loved to continue teaching, but as she always quick to point out, in those days, female teachers were not allowed to be married so that teaching jobs would be available to single women and men. They began their life together on the Kyle family farm near Schaller, Iowa. She attended and helped at the Schaller Methodist Church for 20 years, where she often taught Sunday school. Two sons were born in Iowa—Roger Lee on Oct. 13, 1947, and Randal Jay on Dec 7, 1956. In the spring of 1963, the family sold the Iowa farm and moved to Greenwood. In Wisconsin, they owned a 60-cow dairy farm. They loved Wisconsin and the many close friends they made while living there, especially Lennie and Betty Rueth, the nearest neighbors who were always ready for a lively game of marbles. After seven years, the family moved back to Galva for a short time before moving to a dairy farm near Alma. Following several more years of farming, which included a dairy farm near Seneca, and a crop farm near Rose Creek, Minn., they started a career together owning and operating "mom and pop" motels in Texas, Wisconsin and Iowa. In all, they owned, renovated and successfully ran six different motels. Her husband fixed up the rooms and she ran the front desk and did the books. These were some of their happiest times and she often commented that they wished they had started in the motel business sooner. They loved sharing stories with the traveling salesmen and workers. They finally retired to an acreage near Lime Springs, Iowa, in 1994, where they tended to their garden and flowers. Her husband passed away at the age 84 on April 10, 202. She then made the last of her 19 moves as an adult to Madison in November 2002 to be near her son, Randy, and his family. While in Madison, she was an enthusiastic member of the First United Church and a willing and grateful participant in the Westshire Village choir. Thank you to her friends at Westshire for making her time in Madison so wonderful and to all other friends she made along the way. There were many. A special thank you to Jane Rastas for the concerts, rides and all she did to make her life so enjoyable. She loved her family and was proud of her grandchildren, Shawn, Katie, Carrie and Kelsey.

Survivors include a brother, Clarence Jr., Waxahachie, Texas; her sons, Roger and Celeste (nee Hebert) Kyle, Maplewood, Minn., and Randy and Barbara (nee Seibel) Kyle, Madison; a grandson Shawn Kyle, Hauchucha Cith, Ariz.; and three granddaughters, Kaitlin, Carolyn and Kelsey Kyle, Madison.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Clarence and Agnes Naslund; her husband, Tony Kyle; and a brother, Earl Naslund.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial donation to the First United Methodist Church Youth Fund. Following is a passage she clipped and saved from an obituary. We don’t know who to credit, but we know these words express her thoughts and wishes for those of us she left behind and thank the author. "Now that I am gone, release me, let me go. I have so many things to see and do. You can’t tie yourself to me with tears, be thankful for our beautiful years together. I gave to you my love and you will never know how much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown, but now it’s time I travel alone. So grieve for awhile for me if grieve you must do, then let your grief be comforted by trust Its only for a time that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart. I won’t be far away as life goes on, so if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near, and if you listen with your heart you’ll hear, all my love around you soft and clear. And then when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and say…"Welcome Home."