Muriel C. (Skavhaug) Hendrickson died peacefully on March 3rd, 2017 in Helena, Montana, at the age of 92.

Muriel Skavhaug was born at home, delivered by her father, on March 25th, 1924, on the family farm in Adams Township, ND. Her parents, Carl B. and Mabel (Elton) Skavhaug raised their four children there. Muriel graduated from Adams High School, going on to earn her teaching certificate from Mayville State Teachers College. She taught grades K-8 in a one-room schoolhouse near Fairdale, ND.

Muriel married Theodore (Ted) Hendrickson on May 30th, 1946, in Grand Forks, ND after Ted returned home from World War II. Together, they raised six children, built a home from scratch and operated a plumbing, heating and construction business in Adams, ND. During their time in Adams, Muriel and Ted were both active members of the community, with Ted serving as mayor for two terms. Muriel, who wanted Ted home more often, voted against him in each of his elections.

In 1964, Muriel and Ted moved to Minot, ND where they resided for thirty years, spending their free time gardening, fishing, and socializing at the Sons of Norway. Muriel especially enjoyed treasure hunting at rummage sales and selling glassware at flea markets. She also volunteered with the Red Cross at John Moses Air Force Hospital, working with returning Vietnam War veterans.

In 1994, Muriel and Ted moved to Tioga, ND to be closer to many of their grandchildren. In Tioga, Muriel was a member of Tioga Senior Citizens, the American Legion Auxiliary and First Lutheran Church. She also enjoyed being the #1 fan at her grandchildren’s various activities.

Muriel loved deeply and was blessed with six children, eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. She had immense pride in their educational accomplishments. Muriel was the first in her family to obtain a post-secondary degree, and her children and grandchildren have since become engineers, teachers, accountants, counselors, medical professionals and military veterans – all having been instilled with her belief that money spent on education is never wasted, “it’s the only thing that can’t be repossessed.”

Muriel’s kindness, creativity and passion for humor never ceased to surprise her family. Her home served as the neighborhood gathering place where she spent many years instigating pranks, always striving to outwit the kids. No matter her age, Muriel remained a kid at heart.

Muriel is survived by her children, Karen Bender of Tioga, ND; Brian (Sharilyn) Hendrickson of Michigan, ND; Robbin (Jody) Hendrickson of Bismarck, ND; Lana (Russell) Landphere of Minot, ND; Carla Scantlebury of Wilsall, MT; and Becky Hanson of Tioga, ND; her sister Carol (Skavhaug) Carroll of West St. Paul, MN, 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Theodore ‘Ted’ Hendrickson, her parents Carl B. and Mabel (Elton) Skavhaug, her brothers Arlow and Alden Skavhaug, her sons-in-law Glen Bender, Lee Hanson and Raymond Myrstol, her great-granddaughter Charlotte Mirabelle Glen, and many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Memorial Contribution