Christensen, Martha A. (1920-2015)

CHRISTENSEN, RINK, SCHLUETER, VANG, MASS, CHRISTENSEN, SAGE, ROLES, GRAHAM, FITTZ, JORGENSEN, PETERS, BEZDICEK, TONN, BLEE, WEINMANN, BICEK, DENTON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/11/2015 at 13:11:35

Martha A. Christensen
October 1, 1920 - September 5, 2015

Surrounded by her family, Martha Anna (Rink) Vang Christensen, age 94, of Storm Lake, Iowa, passed away at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center on September 5, 2015.

Born on October 1, 1920, Martha was the second of five children born to Herman and Anna (Schlueter) Rink in Pender, Nebraska. She grew up on the family farm. Eventually, she earned her teaching degree from Wayne State Teacher’s College, located near her home.

On June 1, 1943, Martha married LeRoy Vang. They farmed near Wolbach, Nebraska, where they started their family that would grow to include five daughters. They shared an appreciation of nature and delighted their children with various family adventures. In 1948, Martha and LeRoy established a family farm in Hollandale, Minnesota. In 1958, they moved to Walker, Minnesota, after purchasing Bayside Resort on Leech Lake in Walker, Minnesota. Three years later, they moved to Morris, Minnesota, where they owned the Chokio Locker Plant and Martha taught school in nearby Hancock. In 1965, Martha and LeRoy moved their family to Wadena, Minnesota. After LeRoy passed away on March 4, 1970, Martha returned to college to complete a Bachelor of Science degree at Bemidji State College in 1971. During the 1970s, she taught at the elementary school in Verndale, not far from Wadena. Because of her outstanding work as a teacher, she received the Minnesota Teacher of Excellence award in 1978. Martha was particularly proud of her “Twenty-five Consecutive Years” award from KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly), one of many organizations where she enjoyed mutual support and friendships.

After retiring in 1980, Martha began spending winters in the desert and canyon surrounds of Sedona, Arizona. For the spring and summer months, she returned to Wadena, Minnesota, to garden and write her weekly column, “In the Garden,” for the Wadena Pioneer Press.

After her sister, Helen Christensen, died on February 5, 1988, Martha understood the grief and loss felt by Helen’s widower, Clayton Christensen. Their friendship blossomed into a loving relationship which enriched both of their lives from the day of their marriage, February 11, 1989 in Storm Lake, Iowa. Clayton and Martha shared interests in gardening, traveling, bird watching, and playing cards as well as pursuing individual artistic endeavors. Throughout their twenty-six year marriage, they generously shared their home, entertaining family and friends, foreign exchange students, Rotary exchange students, and card clubs. Martha’s oil paintings, china and porcelain painting, jewelry, garden produce, and homemade soups and bread are a few of the special gifts she shared, but the gift of her encouraging and uplifting spirit will be remembered by all who knew her.

Martha was preceded in death by her first husband, LeRoy Vang; her daughter, Judith Vang; her parents, Herman and Anna (Schlueter) Rink; her sisters, Edna Mass and Helen Christensen; her brother, Richard Rink; and two brothers-in-law, Clarence Mass and Lloyd Sage.

Martha is survived by her husband Clayton; her daughters: Linda, and her husband, Keith Roles, of Alexandria, Minnesota, Marion, and her husband, Gary Graham, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, Norma Vang, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Brenda Vang, and her husband, James Fittz, of Denver, Colorado; Clayton’s daughters: Barbara, and her husband, Jim Jorgensen, of Storm Lake, Iowa, Dr. Carole Christensen, and her husband, Dan Peters, of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Diane, and her husband, Don Bezdicek, of Hastings, Minnesota; her siblings: Esther (Lloyd) Sage, of Ogden, Utah, and Harold (Marilyn) Rink, of Pender, Nebraska, her sister-in-law, Phyllis Rink; her grandchildren: Adam and Ryan (Erin) Bezdicek; Ryan (Katie) Bicek; Kristi (Joe) Blee; Kelly Christensen; Jessica (Kevin) Denton; Kevin (Laura) and Tyler (Tanya) Fittz; Christoffer (Sonja), Michael (Tessa), and Troy (Melanie) Graham; Chris (Stephanie) and Jeff (Jordan) Jorgensen, Lisa (Brian) Tonn, and Heather (Rob) Weinmann; twenty great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Martha, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother: you leave your loved ones with countless blessings and fun-loving memories. We are all better people because of you. We love you and will miss you dearly!

Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 13, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow Monday, September 14, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. at the Wadena Cemetery in Wadena, Minnesota. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to Sandra J. Schulze American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Rochester, Minnesota, 411 Second Street NW, Rochester, Minnesota 55901.

Copyright © 2015, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes

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