Myrtle M. Hansen

Although she never referred to herself as one, Myrtle Mynhier Means Hansen was one of World War II’s ‘Rosie the Riveters.’ Due to her small size, she could fit into and wire C-47 airplane wings at Douglas Aircraft Plantnow Tinker Field. The 38,000 workers built 5,354 C-47 Skytrain U.S. Army cargo planes, nicknamed "Gooney Birds."

Myrtle Viola Mynhier Means Hansen was born September 2, 1918 the only child of Eula Mae Herron and Alvin Mynhier. The family lived on Pure Oil Company leases around Oklahoma until her Daddy was killed in an oil field accident in 1932. She and her mother moved to Oklahoma City and except for about 15 years, she has since called Oklahoma City home.

She graduated in 1935 from Central High School in Okla. City. She married Richard Means on November 21, 1936. From this marriage, Myrtle had two daughters, Sally [Moon] and Barbara [Cuttell], six grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren. She was also married to Carol John Hansen on June 24, 1986.

Anyone who tasted the sugar cookies she baked would testify the cookies were the best cookies ever. She also baked delicious homemade rolls for family meals, made a tangy, tasty cole slaw and sweet spinach salad and many other dishes. She loved to tease about getting her rolling pin after people who misbehaved. Every time she was telling her family members good-bye, she also told the person to ‘be a good boy or girl.’ She was a member of Putnam City United Methodist Church where she was a member of United Methodist Women and a cook for Mobile Meals for years.

Family members who will miss her are Sally [and Jim] Moon, Okla. City and Barbara Cuttell, of Spencer, Iowa, five living grandchildren, Marcia [and Gene] Feisal, Sherry [and Bobby] Cole, Oklahoma City; Mike [and Kristi] Moon, Broken Arrow, Okla.; Brent [and Christie] Cuttell, Cottage Grove, Minn. and Greg [and Terri] Cuttell, Spencer, Iowa. Great grandchildren are Regina [and Chris] Webber, Yukon, Okla., J.K. [and Katie] Feisal, Rachel Cunningham, Jacob Cunningham, Okla. City; Victoria Moon and Kristin Snodgrass, Broken Arrow; Steven Snodgrass, Minneapolis, Minn.; Abigail Cuttell, Pensacola, Fla., Myles and Camden Cuttell, Cottage Grove, Minn.; Tatum, Scott and Briar Cuttell, Spencer, Iowa. The great, great grandchildren, Annabelle and Cal Webber, Yukon, Okla. and Eliza Feisal, Okla. City.

Her husbands, her grandson, Scott Cuttell, and son-in-law, Gary Cuttell, preceded her in death. Burial is in Memorial Park in Muskogee, Okla. Memorials can be made to Putnam City United Methodist Church Mobile Meals, 5819 NW 41st, Okla. City, OK 73122.