Merlin Weldon Hultquist, the son of Henry Albert Zenus and Olga Otelia Anderson Hultquist was born December 2, 1919 on a farm near Stanton, Iowa. He passed away on December 26, 2012 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 93 years and 24 days. Merlin was raised in the Stanton and Wallin area and attended Stanton School through the eighth grade, when he began working on a farm to support his parents and sisters after his father suffered a severe heart condition. He was baptized and confirmed at the Mamrelund Lutheran Church in Stanton, Iowa, where he was also married to Relda Johnson of Stanton on March 21, 1942. He taught Sunday School and served on the church board at Mamrelund. Merlin and Relda farmed near Stanton, Morton Mills and Elliott before moving to Red Oak in l969. Merlin served several terms on the Griswold Community School Board, with one term as President. Upon moving to Red Oak, he worked as a Fieldman and served as a Director of the Pioneer Mutual Insurance Company for 26 years and also served on the Montgomery County Compensation Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Merlin and Relda became members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Red Oak and the Red Oak Country Club, traveled extensively and enjoyed golfing and fishing with their family and friends. Merlin was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Nicholas Westover; a son-in-law, Dawane Petersen; a sister, Eloise Palmquist and her husband Howard; brothers-in-law: Everett Mullen, J.M. Anderson, Larence ""Larry"" Johnson and wife Wanda, and Lance Johnson and wife Irene. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Relda of Red Oak, IA; daughters: Carolyn Johnson and husband Greg of Stanton, IA; Joan Curtis and husband Sam of Red Oak, IA; sons: Gary and wife Polly of Sonoma, CA; Marvin and wife Jeannie of Big Cabin, OK; Lynn and wife Cyndi of Topeka, KS; Ron and wife Sharon of Red Oak, IA; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sisters: Doris Mullen of Corning, IA and Arlene Anderson of Loveland, CO; numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lois Johnson of Red Oak, IA; numerous nieces, nephews, along with other relatives and many friends. May God bless his memory and give strength to those who mourn. Funeral Service will be held Monday, December 31, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Red Oak, Iowa Burial in Mamre Cemetery, Stanton, Iowa at 1:30 p.m. Rev. John Swenson, Officiating Visitation with the family present on Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home. Memorials to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Mamrelund Lutheran Church. Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.