Myrtle Augusta Behnke, age 91, of the Township of Richmond, Shawano County went to be with her Lord in heaven on Monday, September 13, 2021. Myrtle was born at home on October 30, 1929. She grew up on her parent's farm which was located on Highway 29 across from Stony Hill Church.  She was the daughter of the late Rose (Justman) Erdmann and Otto F. Erdmann.  Myrtle had a joyful childhood.   She always had a pet dog and told stories of her favorite dog "Sheppy" who was able to carry the cook stove wood, pull her on a sled and even fetch your gloves.  Myrt attended Stony Hill School for grades 1-8 and then went on to graduate from Shawano High School.   After graduation she went to work in the office of Farmers Hardware Store.   It was a busy store and along with office duties Myrt sold hunting and fishing licenses.  She then met her one true love Eugene Behnke at a dance in Caroline.  They were united in marriage on May 2, 1953 and enjoyed 50 beautiful years together.

Myrt and Eugene owned and operated a farm northwest of Symco and operated a livestock hauling truck.   During those years Myrt also worked at the Outagamie County Welfare Office. In 1968 when Myrtle's parents started to cut back on farming, Myrt and Eugene moved back to her childhood home.  Myrt's father bought the Thornton Sawmill and Eugene and Myrt went into business with him.  They also continued to farm, and Myrtle started working at Cantwell-Peterson Clinic in Shawano.  In 1996 the Highway 29 expansion project went through, and the farm buildings were taken down.   New buildings were put up and the Harvestor Silo (which Myrt climbed every 4 ^th of July to watch the fireworks from) was moved.  When Eugene passed away in 2003, Myrt continued to work at the clinic.   Myrt retired from the clinic on February 28, 2006, after working there for 36 years.

Myrt was an avid trout fisherwoman.  She loved to fish with her mom and her friends.  She also was an ardent country music fan.  She went to the grand Ole Opry nine times.   Her favorites were Marty Robinson, artists from the early 1950's, The Statler Brothers (whom she saw perform 19 times) and gospel music.

Myrt enjoyed working in her apple orchard and caring for her rose bushes.  She always had a story to tell about some type of wildlife that she saw around the farm.  She had stories about bear, deer and of course her birds.  Ringo and Rosie the Ring-tailed Pheasants and Sandy and Hilbert the Sandhill Cranes visited her for many years and gave her great joy.

Along with her parents, Myrt was proceeded in death by her husband Eugene, brothers-in-law Rueben and Kenneth, sister-in-law JoAnn (Kenneth) Behnke and nephews Kurtis and Willis Behnke.

Myrtle' s funeral service will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021, at 11:00 am at St. Paul's Lutheran Church – Stony Hill, with Pastor Richard Buhrke officiating. Visitation will be held at 9:30 at the church until the time of service.

Memorial gifts should be directed to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church – Stony Hill and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Hartland Hospice, The Cottages, Nancy Kriewaldt, Reggie Zastrow and everyone who helped Myrtle, whatever the request, after Eugene passed away.   We will always be thankful for the kind and compassionate care for Myrt.