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Merle Rae Adair Brown Oesterlin
Lilah Crowe2021-03-22T11:14:28-05:00
- Name: Merle Rae Adair Oesterlin (Brown)
- Location of Birth: Bovey, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: January 1, 1925
- Date of Death: January 13, 2014
- Parents: Roy Brown & Genevieve (Lester) Brown
- High School and Class: 1942 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
- College:
- Highest Rank:
- Branch:
- Other Branch: Cadet Nurse Corps
- Date Sworn In:
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- Date of Discharge:
- Place of Discharge:
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- Military Awards:
- Military Highlights:
Merle Rae Brown attended the Methodist Kahler School of Nursing, Rochester, Minnesota starting in September 1943.
Newspaper article - Jan 1945 – From Merle Rae Brown, Cadet Nurse: “To the Members of the Servicemen’s Club: This is just a brief note to thank you for the lovely Christmas box. I just received it today, which made it a wee bit late, but still very much appreciated. As you probably know, I’m at affiliation in Minneapolis. It is grand work and I like it a lot. I would also like to thank you for the birthday gift which I received this week and all those cards that have been coming right along. I have been cutting them all down and plan to make a folder in the near future, for they are all grand pictures. Well, I must be closing as I have to get ready for duty. Thanks again. Sincerely, Merle Rae”
- Wars Involved:
World War II
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- Civilian Life:
Merle Rae Brown married Dr. Allen Frethem in 1947; he died in 1980. She married Robert Oesterlin in 1988; he died in 2004. She was a 50-year volunteer at the Methodist Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the Alice Mayo Society.
Merle Rae Oesterlin died in Rochester, Minnesota and is buried in Kenyon Cemetery, Kenyon, Minnesota. She is survived by her son Craig (Deborah) Frethem and their children, Geoffrey (Amanda), Stephen (Nicole) and great-granddaughter, Signe. She is also survived by her second husband’s children, Robert (Sharee) Oesterlin, their children, Rob and Jon; Scott (Roxanne) Oesterlin and his children, Tim, Holly and Beth, and their mother, Karen McGee.
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