1910 SD CENSUS - Myrtle J. Lewis (4y, b South Dakota) enumerated with parents Bert E. (40y, b New York, married 17y, occupation farmer) and Sara H. (35y, b New York, mother of 7 children, 6 living at time of census) and 5 siblings, Geoge A. (16y, b New York), Flora P. (10y, b New York), John B. (y, b New York), Ralph A. (2y, b South Dakota) and Franklyn P. (3m, b South Dakota); also with family was servant Samuel L. Barnes (21y, b Iowa)

1920 OR CENSUS - Myrtle J. Lewis (14y, b South Dakota) enumerated with mother Sarah H.G. (45y, b New York, married) and 3 siblings, John B. (18y, b New York, occupation truck driver), Ralph A. (11y, b South Dakota) and Franklin K. (9y, b South Dakota); also with family was boarder George H. Carroll (73y, b Pennsylvania, divorced, occupation paepr hanger)

MARRIAGE - Rollin Beaver and Myrtle J. Lewis md 12 Jan 1927, Yamhill Co, Oregon

1930 OR CENSUS - Myrtle Beaver (26y, b North Dakota [sic], married at age 22y) enumerated with husband   Roland (34y, b Ohio, married at age 30y, occupation farm laborer) and Roland's mother Mary E. (72y, b Ohio, widowed)

1940 OR CENSUS - Myrtle J. Beaver (35y, b South Dakota, occupation teacher) enumerated with husband   Rollin (44y, b Ohio, occupation farm operator)

OSBH DC (2004 Polk Co) #04-00422

Myrtle Beaver,
Sept. 5, 1905 – Jan. 4, 2004
INDEPENDENCE – Viewing, 9-Noon, Fri., Jan. 9 at Farnstrom Mortuary. Funeral Service, following at 1 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Church, 4995 Independence Hwy, Independence.
Statesman Journal, (Salem, Oregon), January 7, 2004 5C

Myrtle Julia (Lewis) Beaver, September 5, 1905-January 4, 2004

Independence – Myrtle Julia was born on a farm near Broadland, SD, to Bertram and Sarah Herrick (Gray) Lewis. Myrtle, her parents, four brothers and one sister moved to Oregon in 1910, where she attended Mt View School in Polk Co for four years. Moving to Portland, she later graduaduated from Franklin High School. Having been inspired by Flora Grice (Martin), her first grade teacher at Mt View, Myrtle enrolled in Oregon Normal School, a teachers’ college in Monmouth, where she then graduated in Dec of 1926. At that time, one could teach after one year of schooling. Between her enrollment and graduation from ONS (now WOU) she taught two years at Mt View, where she had attended her first four years of school. On January 12, 1927, Myrtle married Rollin Beaver, who had a farm up Burley Road near West Salem. Theirs was a happy, successful marriage which lasted 61 years, 7 months, before Rollin’s death in 1988. In late Jan 1927, Myrtle was called to teach math, penmanship, and spelling at Parrish Jr High, where she came to be known as an excellent teacher who was greatly respected and loved by both students and staff members. She served as severtary and vice president of Salem Teachers Association before retiring in June 1940. Twenty-five years later, Myrtle substituted in various Salem Jr Highs. Rollin and Myrtle’s son, Rollin Anthony, was born on April 9, 1941, and their daughter, Carolyn Laila, was born on May 28, 1944. The family was very close, and it was a great tragedy when Rollin Anthony was killed by a drunk driver on May 29, 1981. Myrtle and Rollin farmed on Burley Rd for 50½ years, where he had farmed for 20 years prior to their marriage. In 1978, they moved to Old Fort Road, S of Monmouth. Myrtle was a Great Lady, beautiful in every way. She was genuinely interested in others, putting their wants and needs before her own. She was always young at heart, but also possessed great wisdom, two qualities which drew other people to her. Myrtle most loved her family and friends, and spending time with them. She also enjoyed reading, listening to classical music, and home canning, which she continued to do into her 90’s. She was a member of and officer in many clubs and organizations such as Farm Bureau, Polk Co Federated Women’s Clubs, Polk Co Historical Society, The Chemeketans, Women for Agriculture, Parker Women’s Club, and Parker Garden Club. Myrtle had joined The Book and Thimble Club in 1927, and when it disbanded in 1986 on its 75th anniversary, it was the oldest rural social club west of the Mississippi River. President Ronald Reagan sent the club members a telegram commending them for their many years of community service. Myrtle leaves her daughter, Carolyn Laila (Beaver) Miller and son-in-law Donald L. Miller; her grandson, Timothy Rollin Miller; her granddaughter, April Kristin Metcalf and faince, Matthew R. McNamara; several nieces and nephews; many loved ones, friends, and wonderful neighbors. Hers was a life of service to others, and a blessing to us all. A beautiful memorial service was held on Fri, Jan 8, at the Cornerstone Christian Center in Independence. It was officiated by the Reverand Bob McMillian, as was the interment on Tues, Jan 13, at the Zena Cemetery in Spring Valley, Polk County, Oregon

Statesman Journal, January 14, 2004, 5C

Myrtle Julia Beaver
Sept. 5, 1905
Jan. 4, 2004
Beloved Wife and Mother
Hers Was A Life Of Service To Others

Saucy Survey & Photographs

1910 SD CENSUS (Pennington Co, Underwood, ED 90, sheet 4B)

1920 OR CENSUS (Multnomah Co, Portland, ED 86, sheet 17A)

Oregon Marriage Index

1930 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, W. Salem, ED 21, sheet 3A)

1940 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, W. Salem, ED 27-47, sheet 4B-4A) 
SJ 7 Jan 2004 and 14 Jan 2004