Miriam H. Muhlstein

Mason City, IA: Miriam H. Mokey Muhlstein, 80, of Mason City, died Sunday, April 5, 2009, at Good Shepherd Health Center. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Rev. Jon Seda of Holy Family Catholic Church officiating. There will be a gathering of friends and family on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 from 5:00 PM 7:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to Holy Family Catholic Church.


Miriam was born on May 2, 1928 in Bancroft, IA, the daughter of Harold and Edna (Grein) Johnson. Miriam graduated from Holy Family High School in 1945. She worked for Ben Franklins in the 1950s and also worked for Northwestern Bell over the years. She retired from K-Mart in 1994 after 15 years. She was united in marriage to Walter Muhlstein on June 16, 1947 in Austin, MN. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and church circle. She was very involved in the 1960 political campaign. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, working on hard crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and gambling with her husband Walter. Miriam was a hard worker and loved helping people. She made the best potato salad.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Walter Muhlstein of Mason City, her two daughters: Cathy Manuel and husband Jim of Mason City and Geri Dunn and husband Dave of Mason City; four grandchildren: Steve Manuel and wife Alisha of Altoona, IA, Tim Manuel of Roswell, GA, Megan Blunt and husband Jason of Mason City, and David Dunn and wife Jill of Des Moines, IA; seven great grandchildren: Kelsey, Erika, and Lily Manuel, Carson and Kailee Blunt, Patience and Sierra Thompson; two brothers: Harold Johnson and wife Betty of Owatonna, MN and Dennis Johnson and wife Liz of Aberdeen, SD; one sister: Betty Suby of Fertile, IA. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and in-laws.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother: Leon Johnson; two sisters: Elaine Hendricks and Rose Lee Johnson.