Baptism of our Lord- Grandma Myrtle's Painting

January 9, 2022

Grandma Myrtles Painting


Today’s gospel talked about Jesus being baptized in Bethany by John the Baptist.  In the 1920’s my Grandma Myrtle painted this 4 foot x 8 foot painting of where Jesus was baptized.  Grandma was one of the most faithful people I know.  She had a strong belief and shared that with others.  I always consider her one of my most faithful mentors.  

The painting hung in a baptistery of the Evangelical United Brethren Church on 16th and Central in Great Falls for over 50 years. My grandmother told me that she painted it on a piece of masonite because she couldn’t afford a canvas that big. She told me it was so big that Grandpa Joe had to tie it to the side of his vehicle (probably on the sideboards) to get it to the church. I can just picture someone holding onto it so it wouldn’t fall out in the ground as it traveled. 

1923 Grandma Myrtle with Dick (my dad) 

Ron’s sister Lorrie told me that the baptistery was behind a set of doors that was behind the altar.   The photo below is of John and Lorrie Bridges’ (Ron’s sister) wedding in the church in 1980.  The baptistery was behind the doors under the picture of Jesus.  When the doors were opened, Grandma’s picture would show through.  How cool is that!

When the church did a remodel in 1979, they were going to send the painting to the dump but a member rescued it. It happened to be the church Ron's mom and sisters attended and when the woman saw Ron and my wedding announcement in the church bulletin, she recognized my maiden name Fagenstrom as the same name as on the painting and asked if I wanted it. It hung in Ron’s parents basement until we bought our first house.


We first hung it on the dining room wall in our house on Sherwood in 1979. I remember Grandma Myrtle coming to visit (a stop over on her way to Bonners Ferry) and Ron had to quickly add a frame to the painting before she got there. Unfortunately the frame covered up her signature in the bottom right corner, but it’s still under the frame. 

Uncle Pete and Aunt Doris were looking at the painting and Grandma Myrtle said it was where Jesus was baptized.  Uncle Pete quipped, "That rock sure looks like a good place to fish!"  Aunt Doris said, "Pete that was where Jesus was baptized". He retorted, "It still looks like a good place to fish!" 

The painting has hung in every house we have lived in since then. We always had to have a house with a wall big enough to hang it on. It’s definitely the biggest painting Grandma ever painted!

As I read the gospel from John 1:28, I see that Jesus was baptized at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan.. Today I realized the painting will have to go to my granddaughter Bethany!