Martinson, Geneva Lucille (1925-2014)
MARTINSON, BYE, IVERSON, SIGLER, STEINKRAUS, ABELS, SEVERSON
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/9/2015 at 16:07:22
Geneva Lucille Martinson
(March 25, 1925 - December 21, 2014)Geneva Martinson, 89, of Lake Mills, Iowa, died on Sunday, December 21, 2014, at the Sterling House in Owatonna, Minnesota.
The youngest of three children born to Lewis and Burlette (Iverson) Bye, Geneva grew up where she was born on their farm near Scarville, Iowa. There, as a child, she learned to love the great outdoors.
Although she was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Scarville, Geneva spent her entire adult life as a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills. While attending school in Scarville, she joined the high school orchestra where she played the violin. She also played basketball. After graduating from Scarville High School in 1942, she did some traveling with her best friend, Mary, but came back to work and live her entire life in the Scarville - Lake Mills area with the exception of the last few years when she moved closer to her daughter in Owatonna, Minnesota, where she resided until her death.
Early on, Geneva met the love of her life, Royden Martinson, and on her birthday in 1945 she married him. To this marriage, two children, one girl, Linda, and one boy, Larry, were born. Together, they made their home in Lake Mills. A very proud individual, Geneva took immaculate care of their home and yard. In addition, she and Royden cared for the many cemeteries in the Lake Mills area for many years, mowing, trimming, etc. She loved working outside, keeping every bush trimmed, every weed killed, and every blade of grass properly cut, right up until her family told her she couldn’t do those tasks anymore.
Geneva was very much an outdoor person. She enjoyed hunting and fishing, but what choice did she have married to Royden? When anyone came to visit, she would have to show off the big Northern she had caught at Cass Lake just to prove her prowess. Moreover, she loved bowling and proudly displayed in her house and later in her apartment all the trophies she had won. Not many people knew it, but she also loved to write poetry. Whenever friends or family gathered for a special occasion, she would write a poem. She loved to travel, making many trips to Canada to visit relatives as well as many trips to northern Minnesota for family vacations. She loved to shop and absolutely adored spending time with all her wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren. They could sure bring a smile to her face!
Geneva and Royden used to own and operate the Mills Theater in Lake Mills back when a movie ticket cost a quarter, pop a dime, and popcorn a whole nickel. Geneva, primary, sold the candy, pop, and popcorn. She would clean up after the movie too. She and Royden took great pride in bringing some good entertainment to their home community for over twelve years.
Geneva is survived by her two children, Linda Sigler, and her husband, Gary, of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Larry Martinson, of Forest City, Iowa; five grandchildren: Nicole (Sigler) Steinkraus, and her husband, Chris, Michael Sigler, Randy Martinson and his special friend Mindi Ames, Tim Sigler, and his wife, Laura, and Amy (Martinson) Abels, and her husband, Dusty; and eight great-grandchildren: Matthew, Nicholas, and Emily, Randy’s children; Hannah, Ava, and Chloe, daughters of Nicole and Chris; Haley, daughter of Tim and Laura; and Brody, son of Amy and Dusty.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Royden Martinson; her sister, Juleta Severson; her brother, Harold Bye; her daughter-in-law, Mary Martinson; as well as many other relatives, too numerous to mention. “Gone but never forgotten.”
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 27, 2014, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with Pastor Todd Buegler officiating. Burial will take place at Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Lake Mills. Visitation will be on Friday, December 26, 2014, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Copyright © 2014, Mittelstadt Funeral Home
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