Muriel Groves

Muriel Ione (Tarr) Groves

Muriel Groves met her Lord face to face on June 20, 2026 in Brandon, South Dakota. She was 96, predeceased by her parents: Lelah Ione and Vernon Tarr; her 3 brothers: Robert Tarr, Gerald Tarr, Donald Tarr; her husband: Vernon Groves; and her son: Christopher Groves. Those who survive her treasure memories of her in their hearts: daughters Gretchen Groves of Sioux Falls, SD and Boelle Kirby (Paul) of Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada; grandchildren Brittainy Wandrocke (Miles Loggie) of Buffalo, NY, Jack Foley (Kayla) of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Nathan Kirby (Mary) of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Bianka Groves Apodea Dela Cruz (Sonny) of Santa Fe, NM, Katelynn Hill of Philadelphia, PA, and Collin Groves of Templeton, CA; great-grandchildren Sadie and Noah Kirby of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Charlie Hill of Philadelphia, PA, and Lyla Foley of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.

Muriel was born in Aitkin, Minnesota, on September 5, 1929. Her 3 brothers were impacted by having a sister by seeing her wearing their shirts and T shirts around town, having to watch over her on dates, as well as including her in their street games of tag and baseball. Her maternal grandfather, a carpenter, lived with them, and built Muriel a set of table, chairs and cupboard she loved. A favourite memory was of him giving her 2 nickels every Saturday for the movies and popcorn! She attended Aitkin Schools, being voted “Best Dressed” in her high school class, thanks to her mother sewing almost all of her clothing—a skill passed on to Muriel, who faithfully and skillfully sewed clothes for her daughters!

Speaking of high school, Muriel began dating a handsome basketball player, Vernon Groves, who joined the Navy, and came back on leave, when they “just decided” to get married on May 23, 1949. And so began the “moving experience” of life with Vern: 25 moves across the US in 33 years of marriage! She was quite the trooper: packing, unpacking, painting rooms, making new friends, leaving good friends, starting over so many times, ending up in Mitchell, SD. As the kids matured and moved out, Muriel started over again: working outside the home. First, for the Mitchell School District as a secretary, and later at Mitchell Senior High School as a library assistant, where students were welcomed to adventures of reading with her warmth and knowledge. Tragedy hit as Vernon was killed in a plane crash, forcing Muriel to start over yet again, moving out to California to be with in-laws and beginning new employment. She eventually moved back to Sioux Falls, where she got involved with the women’s PEO and several Bible studies.

Influential to her faith journey, Muriel’s parents-in-law introduced her to a personal faith in Jesus after she married their son. Attending churches in all the different moves helped ground her in a community and she developed many friendships that would last throughout her life. She lived a quiet faith that was strongly built on prayer.

Speaking of “quiet”, Muriel loved reading books, especially fiction. She started young, often reading at night under the covers with a flashlight! During school years, she spent a lot of time reading in the city library. Wherever she lived, she always had a pile of books on the go, mysteries especially: culinary ones, spy stories, “Cat Who…”, Agatha Christie, to name a few. In this past year, she was comforted by rereading her old favourites, and always had several by her bedside. This love of reading was passed on to her daughters. Not only did she love to read, she was avid about doing crosswords every morning from the local newspaper. Speaking of newspaper, Muriel constantly had the TV news on, carrying on conversations with the people on the screen, putting in her “two bits”. She also had her creative pursuits which she loved sharing with the friends she had made; she was quite active in doing crafts of all kinds: ceramics, cake decorating, woodworking, Christmas decorations—members of the family could count on receiving one of her “products” for Christmas; many of these will be cherished memories of her legacies.

Having said all that, her family was number one for her. Visitors often commented on the wealth of family photos all around her apartment, and she proudly shared her love of every single person. She lifted each one in prayer on a regular basis, and took such joy in being “Gammie” and “Gramma”.

Caring, praying, reading, loving, laughing, enjoying; our Mom, our “Gammie”, our “Gramma”, our “Great-Gammie”, our friend: her life, so well and beautifully lived.

An open house to celebrate Muriel’s life will be held later at a date to be determined.