Myrtle Marie (Harral) Overstreet, 92, a resident at the Lutheran Homes of Belle Plaine, passed into the arms of Jesus on Friday, April 5, 2024.
She was born to Edith M and Roy E Harral in Lincoln, Nebraska on November 24, 1931 to a loving family. Early in her life, Myrtle relished learning, and loved to spend time in libraries reading, especially about Africa. She came to love the Lord at age 9, and was nurtured in her walk with Him through the lives of several women who were involved in missions. In high school, she had a chance to serve at a Hopi Indian reservation. This experience helped her understand the desperate condition of people in poverty without hope. She knew her call was to serve in Africa. In preparation for fulfilling her call, Myrtle attended classes at the University of Nebraska where she became a lifelong superfan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, then headed to Grace Bible College in Omaha, Nebraska. During this time she went undefeated as a fast pitch softball pitcher until her last game when a pitcher relieved her. She still claimed she was undefeated.
Courageously, Myrtle traveled to Europe to learn French, then on to Africa to learn the Bambara language. Before she left on her expedition, she went to Kansas City to turn in her application at the Gospel Missionary Union headquarters. While there, she caught the eye and heart of another young applicant, Robert (Bob) Overstreet. He also had a heart for the Lord, and for missions, and now for this young woman, Myrtle, whom he felt sure was to be his wife and partner in life. Myrtle, however, was not convinced. Individually, each of them were called to Mali, where Bob worked in a bookstore, and Myrtle in a girl’s school. After 3 years of persistence and praying, Myrtle finally felt the Lord’s guiding her to marry Bob, and they were married on April 22,1960, in Bamako. Their wedding was in 3 languages! In an early term, they welcomed their first child, Becky in 1963 and later traveled to Ghana, West Africa where they welcomed their second child, Randall in 1965.
Bob and Myrtle served in Mali for a few years, then moved to Green Chapel Church in Lincoln, Nebraska to serve as a pastor there for a term. During this period, they transitioned over to the Christian & Missionary Alliance to continue the work in Africa.
They then moved to Bobo Dioulasso, in Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). Then on to San, Mali, and finally to Bako, where they were pioneer missionaries, working in an area that had never seen white people. They set up a mission station in a dark and desperate area of 600 villages. Bob and Myrtle walked daily around their new area, praying for the people who viewed these strangers with suspicion. They began launching trips into the villages with a medical team and the Jesus Film project. Katiena, a village in Bako, became their new home.
God’s heart was always central in Myrtle, and she found her “in” with the women and children of Bako, creating a curriculum and teaching them to read. Upon completion of their studies, the women and children received Bibles of their own to keep reading. Many doors and hearts opened to both Myrtle and Jesus through her tireless care and teaching, as she discipled the new believers, many who became leaders in the growing church and leaders of Mali.
In 2000, after more than 40 years of service in Africa, they retired from formal missionary service, but continued to serve the Lord in various ministries in Lincoln, Nebraska, then later in Burnsville, Minnesota. where they got to spend concentrated time loving on their children and grandchildren.
After a stroke in 2019, Myrtle was less able to serve, but continued to love her dear husband, children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years, Robert Overstreet, and her daughter Becky (Stan) Carlson and son Randall (Melody) Overstreet along with their Grandchildren; Nathan Carlson, Jonathan (Melissa) Carlson, Anna (Cole) Masseth, Natalie (Ryan) Rogotzke, Daniel (Renee) Carlson, Brianna (Jonathan) Blythe, Leah (Lucas) Clegg and Dawn Overstreet and four great grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters, Nonie Larsen and Jeanie Lucke.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edith and Roy, sisters Ida May and Mary Lou, and her brother Clyde.
Myrtle’s Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, 3:00 PM, with a family visitation from 1:30 – 3:00 PM. All services will be held at the Lutheran Home Chapel, 611 Main Street, Belle Plaine, Minnesota 56011. Parking is available on S. Elk Street and in the parking lot.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial funds may be sent to C&MA (Christian and Missionary Alliance) for the Women’s and Children Hospital in Koutiala in Myrtle’s honor. This project was near and dear to her heart when she left Africa. Please click on the following link and got to bottom of web page to donate to the Koutiala-Hospital Memorial Fund. A tax deductible receipt will be provided by Team Healthcare (501c3). Home | Onevillageforchrist
Myrtle spent her years after her stroke being taken care of by the kind and wonderful staff at Lutheran Home Memory Care Unit for which the family is forever grateful.
