Murton Duane Femrite was born November 27, 1921, in Maxwell Township, rural Dawson, the son of Charles and Bertha (Nuehall) Femrite. He was baptized and confirmed at the Riverside Lutheran Church in Dawson and attended country school in Maxwell Township.
Murton enlisted into the Navy on July 18, 1942. He graduated from Electrician School in Ames, Iowa, and volunteered for submarine duty where he was stationed at New London, Connecticut. Murton and Dorinda Olson were married at New London, CT, on May 11, 1943. After being honorably discharged on October 3, 1945, at Lido Beach, NY, they returned to Dawson and farmed on the home farm (Femrite Hill) until February of 1950. They moved to Minneapolis, where Murton was a machinist until moving back to Dawson on February 21, 1970. He worked at Dawson Mills, and then he and Harlan Swanson owned Dawson Recreation until selling in 1974. He retired in 1983 after working for Moe Equipment and Breberg Equipment. In 1990, they moved from their home into Pleasant View Apartments in Dawson. Murton entered the Johnson Memorial Home in May of 2000, and remained there until his death on Thursday, September 21, 2000, at the age of 78.
Murton is survived by his wife, Dorinda; children: Barbara "Bobbi" Reuper of Dawson and Michael (Nancy) Femrite of Pensacola, FL; 4 grandchildren: Dawn (Scott) Zadow, Renee Reuper, Chad Reuper and fiance, Christina Schuelke, and Keith Femrite; great-granddaughter, Braelin Zadow; sisters: Althea (Lester) Wold of Montevideo and Bethel Mork of Dawson; other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Gary Allen on July 9, 1947; sisters: Helen Bregel and Dorinda Wold; and brothers: Carmen, Herbert, Luther, Ervin, and Chester Femrite.
Murton could always be seen wearing freshly polished shoes, which he did every morning. Murton enjoyed bird watching, gardening, flowers, and especially taking care that his lawn was dandelion-free.