Miriam L. Walstad

Miriam Walstad was born in 1916 to George and Inez Payne in western Nebraska and slipped out of this world into the open arms of Jesus, her Savior, October 6, 2015, after a full life of 99 years. Miriam graduated from Hastings College in Nebraska in 1938. She taught school two years in northern Nebraska then taught in Presbyterian Church schools in New Mexico. She married Elwin Clark in 1943. After their first child, Gretchen, was born, the family moved to west Africa where they served as missionaries for the Presbyterian Church. After one year of service, illness drove them to return to the states where a second child, David was born. Before they could return to the mission field, Elwin's life was cut short in 1948, leaving Miriam to raise two small children on her own. She was helped tremendously in this effort by her wonderfully supportive siblings and parents. Three years later, Miriam met a young Minister, Joseph Walstad, while they were both on staff at a youth camp in Iowa. The following summer they married and began a lifetime together ministering and serving churches in Nebraska, Kansas and Alaska. During this time, two more daughters, Becky and Karen, were born. In 1966, the direction for the Walstads changed gears; while continuing ministry activities around the state of Alaska, Miriam and Joseph began teaching school in the Talkeetna and Willow areas while they built their own home in the wilds of Alaska. In 1982 the couple having already retired, moved to New Mexico, eventually settling into Good Samaritan Village in Las Cruces, continuing to serve in area churches as they had opportunity. The driving force in Miriam's life was her faith, her love of family, friends and her music. She had a beautiful singing voice as well as being an accomplished pianist using these talents God had given her throughout her life for ministry and enjoyment. She will be sorely missed by all of us who loved her and were privileged to have her as a part of our lives. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, a sister, and her first husband: Elwin Clark. She was survived by her husband Joseph Walstad of Las Cruces; 4 children: Gretchen Gross of California; David Walstad of New Mexico; Becky Augustus of Idaho; and Karen Shetler of Oaklahoma; 9 grand children and 5 great grand children. She is also survived by two brothers, Harold Payne of Nebraska, Gerald Payne of Colorado, one sister, Lois Meyers of Wisconsin, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests that in lieu of sending flowers, a donation be made to one of the following charities: Hastings College Foundation https://www.hastings.edu/give Or contact them at alumni@hastings.edu or 800.775.2585 Presbyterian Mission Agency http://www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/102/ If you click "change it here" where it gives you the option to pick a particular fund, then select Orphans & Vulnerable Children In Africa; as her mission work in Cameroon, Africa was focused on the children. Good Samaritan Society - Las Cruces Village http://www.good-sam.com/index.php/about_us/donate/?locId=475 PDF Printable Version