Deborah R. Myrstol

Deborah Rose Myrstol passed away peacefully in her sleep next to the love of her life after a long battle with heart failure and COPD. She was born to Lorraine and Eugene “Rosie” Rose on April 17th 1958 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She was “feisty” as a child as grandma Lorraine would have said, and loved her memories of time with her parents, her brother Fred and sister Becky more than anything in the world. As a precocious, intelligent young woman, she graduated high school early and earned her hard working attitude with waitressing jobs locally before going to sow her wild oats in California, Utah, and finally in Montana where she found her forever home. Her first two children, Vanna and James, were born of her prior marriage to Rand Kay. Deb always counted herself lucky to find her true match in Brian Myrstol, hopping into his old Chevy truck unannounced after saying hi, pop cans and all in the school parking lot ready to get to know this fellow single parent trying to survive life in the Shields Valley. Brian and Deb were wed on August 1st, 1992 and in addition to blending their families, became a community institution. Deb was proud to be a bonus mom to Alyson, Tyler, and Ben as the two families became one. We all danced together to “Workin on a full house” by Garth Brooks at the wedding, and boy howdy was it a full house. Five kids, two overworked parents, and lots of love and working together. A tireless and proud mama bear, Deb was always on the move, whether it was ushering her kids out the door to learn how to imagine and survive, or whether she was cramming us all into a suburban for a trip to Kettle Falls or to Yellowstone. She loved cooking for camping trips, seeing just how many of us could fit on a four wheeler at once. And yet in addition to the fun, she instilled in her children a sense of respect, responsibility, and resiliency. Everyone drew upon that resiliency when Alyson passed away unexpectedly at the tender age of nine. Though the family changed and distanced after that, the love and connection always held true. Even in her passing, we dare not cross the respect we have for the goliath of a woman Debbie Rose was. There was a saying about her father, Eugene, that holds so true to who Deb was. “The wind blew, the sh** flew, and in walked Rose.” Death had to sneak up on Deb in her sleep, like Roosevelt, because had she been awake, there would have been a bear of a fight.

Deborah was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Alyson, her dear parents Eugene and Lorraine Rose, and her parents-in-law Harold and Mary Myrstol. She is survived by her husband, her rock and love of her life Brian Myrstol, her children James Kay, Tyler Myrstol (Quita), Ben Myrstol (Crystal), and Dr Vanna Kay (Lance), Her much treasured grandchildren Aspyn, Gabriel, Leander, Jacob, Michael, Joshua and Caitlin. She is also survived by her sister Becky, her brother Fred and her niece Laura and nephew Matthew. Deb was proud to wear the moniker “mom, ma, or mama Deb” to countless children and young adults in the community. She claimed so many as her own, not afraid to show love, or a swift kick in the a** where needed. She is dearly missed by too many to list or count. The following is by no means a comprehensive list of the souls mom appreciated and touched. Candice Holt and William Crawford and family, Larissa and Swanny Swanson, Wendy Hillman-Wendt, Taylar Hillman, Tanner Hillman, Benita and Chuck Scheile, among so many wonderful others.

Deb never wanted a burial or a funeral, she didn’t like going to them herself. Cremation has taken place per her wishes. She wanted to rest near her loved ones and for us to throw a party in her honor. We intend to create a private invitation for a celebration of life in the future, likely the spring, which was her favorite time of year. Think of her when you see mountains and eagles, and know that is where her spirit resides. In lieu of flowers, please watch for an announcement for a fund to assist with Debbie’s medical bills, which were many.

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