Born September 15, 1919 in Garland, Utah
Died April 13, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah
And in between those two dates and places…what a life she lived!
Grettle was the 2nd child of Alta Benson Owen and Roy Thomas Shaw. Alta passed her graciousness and modesty on to Grettle, while Roy taught her to drive his Texaco gasoline truck with its compound gearing, on the highways west of Tremonton. She was active in Box Elder High School extracurricular activities. She was a Bee-ette and marched in the band, playing clarinet when she wasn't high stepping as drum majorette. One of her regrets was opting for a silver-plated Silvabet instrument instead of the ebony Selmer clarinet which, though not as flashy, was higher-quality and held its value - a lesson she only needed once.
During the Great Depression, she worked her way through college at Utah State University. Her father contributed half of her first quarter's $30 tuition but told her not to count on any more help due to their straightened circumstances. She finished in four years thanks to scholarships, good work habits, and a knack for living happily even if frugally. Her first job after college was teaching English and Home Economics at Box Elder High School back in Brigham City, Utah.
In the summer of 1941, after one year of teaching, she signed up for the Civilian Pilot Training program taught by Johnny Weir who became a legendary figure in Utah aviation. As one of the top 10 graduates of the ground school, she was given the necessary flight training to become a pilot ‚ the only female in the group. On the day that her aviation classmates were having their graduation ceremonies, she married Richard Forsberg Haglund, of New York City, in the Salt Lake Temple on October 2, 1941.
In the course of their marriage, Grettle bore 11 children. She and Richard saw all 11 children through music lessons, straight teeth and college educations. She was a housewife and homemaker for almost 40 years but when the children were grown, she began working in the Financial Aids office at the University of Utah, eventually becoming the Director of that office. In addition to all their parenting duties, they were both active in their communities and the LDS church, serving in many capacities wherever they lived, as well as leaving their home twice in their retirement years to serve as missionaries, first in South Africa and then in Sweden. Grettle was a great support to her husband throughout their marriage, and nursed Richard in the final months of his life until he died in the 66th year of their life together.
When people visited her and asked how she was doing, Grettle would reply, "Better, now that you\re here." And she meant it - people were always the most important thing to her, whether family, friends or strangers. Her lasting legacy will be that she showed us, by her example, how we all could make things "better, now that you're here…"
Grettle is survived by her 11 children Richard Jr. (Carol Ann), Elizabeth Nagel (John), Grettle Payne (David), Karl (Karen), Paul (Sally), Bruce (Buffy), Jeanne Fetzer (Clark), Roger (Lori), David (Sydney), Karen Ashton, and John (Cindy), and by her 50 grandchildren and more than 70 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Monument Park 1st Ward, 1005 South 2000 East. Friends and family may visit Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, and Saturday from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. prior to services at the ward. Interment will take place at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery.
