Muriel Fay Skalberg, the daughter of Elmer Edward Carlson and Debra Fern Anderson was born April 28, 1917 in West Township, on a farm west of Coburg, Montgomery County, Iowa. She died on Monday, September 15, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Society in Red Oak, Iowa after an extended illness at the age of 91 years, 4 months and 18 days. Muriel was raised on farms in the Montgomery and Page counties. She attended 1st grade in Coburg, then went to country school northwest of Essex until the 8th grade. She graduated 8th grade in Clarinda. She went to high school in Red Oak, graduating in l935. Muriel taught school for a year in the same country school that she had attended. On December 18, 1937 she married Willard Virgil Skalberg at the Swedish Mission Church in Red Oak. They made their home with Muriel's folks until Willard got a job farming, and then they moved in with Willard's folks on a farm west of Essex. He later started farming for himself. Willard and Muriel farmed near Essex and Clarinda all their lives. In l981, they retired from farming and moved into Essex. To this union was born 7 children: Glen LeRoy, John Elmer, Robert Willard, Janice Marie, Larry Lee, Jerry Allan and Leslie Kenneth. Muriel was a seamstress and sewed for people in and around the Shenandoah, Essex and Red Oak areas. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, working scrambled word puzzles, gardening, baking, cooking, knitting, crocheting, and making scratchies for her family. Muriel was preceded in death by her parents; brother: Elmer Earl Carlson; grandsons: Gary Brian Peterson; Johnny Lee Skalberg; Ryan Kenneth Skalberg; John Demaree; and one great-granddaughter: Stephanie Young. Muriel is survived by her husband: Willard of Essex, IA; children: Glen and wife Lupe of Rio Vista, CA; John of Red Oak, IA; Bob and friend Cathleen of Richfield, MN; Janice Long and husband Kenneth of Red Oak, IA; Larry and wife Marlene of Emerson, IA; Jerry and friend Juanita of Red Oak, IA; Leslie and wife Connie of rural Red Oak, IA; 28 grandchildren; 73 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Memorial service will be held Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Faith Covenant Church, Essex, Iowa Burial will be at a later date in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Nyman, Iowa Rev. Jim Ressegieu, Officiating Memorials to the Faith Covenant Church, Essex, IA or Essex Fire & Rescue. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.sldfuneralhome.com Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral home in charge of arrangements.