Martha (Brouwer) WESTENBERG

BROUWER, WESTENBERG, CHRISTIANS, VELDHUIZEN, STILTNER, BLACKMON, KLEINIAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/2/2009 at 12:58:51

May 7, 2006
Pipestone County Star, Minnesota

Martha Westenberg, 92, Edgerton, died Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital, Luverne. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 29 at First Christian Reformed Church, Edgerton. Interment was in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton.

Martha Westenberg was born to Wubbo and Tena Christians Brouwer on Sept. 5, 1913 in Wright County, Kanawha, Iowa. At the age of five, she moved with her parents from Iowa to a farm northeast of Edgerton. Martha attended Valley Country Grade School located about one mile from her home. Following her education, she remained at home helping her parents' farm. In 1931, her father hired a farm hand named Dick Westenberg. Three years later, Martha married Dick at her parents' home on Dec. 5, 1934. After their marriage they purchased a home in Edgerton. They had three children. After raising her children she started a cake baking and decorating business in her home. She baked and decorated many wedding and birthday cakes. She later began working for Vander Stoep Furniture as a salesperson. She worked there for 32 years before retiring at the age of 82. Dick preceded her in death in 1988. Following his death, she continued to reside in their home in Edgerton. On Sunday, April 23 Martha was admitted to the Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital in Luverne. She was a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton and a former member of Martha circle.

She is survived by three children, Audrey Veldhuizen, Dickinson, Texas; Carrol (Barbara) Westenberg, Farmington and Robert (Linda) Westenberg, Edina; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and two sisters, Tena Stiltner, Artesia, Calif. and Betty Blackmon, Edgerton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; two brothers, Anno and Clarence Brouwer; one sister, Nancy Kleinjan; son-in-law, Wayne Veldhuizen and a daughter-in-law, Donna Westenberg.