Martha Joann (Mennenga) KLINGE SLINING

KLINGE-SLINING, KLINGE, SLINING, MENNENGA, LEGGE, LONNEVIK, DIDIO, SAPPENFIELD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/20/2016 at 15:19:45

November 22, 1929 ---- August 17, 2016

BELMOND — Martha J. Klinge Slining, age 86, of Belmond, IA, most recently a resident of the Good Shepherd Care Center, Mason City, IA, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016, at the Good Shepherd Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at the United Church of Christ Congregational, Belmond, IA. The Rev. Donna Buckman will be officiating. Interment will be in the Peace Reformed Church Cemetery near Garner, IA. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and will continue one hour prior to the services at church Monday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Martha’s name may wish to consider the Belmond United Church of Christ Congregational, the local Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Assoc., or to their own choice.

Martha Joann Mennenga, the daughter of Henry and Lucille (Legge) Mennenga, was born Nov. 22, 1929. She was raised on the family farm northeast of Belmond and attended country school through the 8th grade. Following her education was hired out to help friends and neighbors as a nanny. As a young lady she had been working at the local Tip Top Grocery Store in Belmond where she met her future husband Wayne. Martha was united in marriage to Wayne Klinge on Feb. 19, 1951. Following their marriage the couple began farming in Liberty Township west of Klemme, IA. Their union was blessed with three children, including Lyle, Delorys, and Kendal. Wayne died suddenly in July 1964 and Martha continued to reside on the farm where she raised her three young children. In addition to being a full time mother and home maker, Martha worked for periods of time in Britt, IA, at We-s Grocery and Krause’s Department Store. Over the years of her life she had also been employed at Cliff Olson’s Antique Store and Belmond Labs.

In December 1970, Martha married Robert Slining. Robert’s family added two step-daughters to her life including Kathy and Roxanne and a step-son Lynn. Martha and Bob farmed for a number of years near Goodell, IA, before moving to a farm west of Belmond. In December 1998, Robert passed away. Martha once again remained on the farm for a few years before moving into the town of Belmond.

Martha very much enjoyed the country living and always raised a large flower and vegetable garden. She was an excellent cook and baker and her family fondly recalls coming home from their daily adventures to a kitchen filled the wafting aromas and visuals of a bounty of freshly baked bread. She was a very creative lady painting many beautiful oil paintings including full size wall murals. Her talents also shown through in her simple, yet one-of-a-kind crocheted items and artistic self made greeting cards. She also enjoyed decorating the interiors of various doll houses that Bob had built.

Her grandkids always referred to her as a “Good Grandma!” Over the years she had been their number one cheerleader and fan at their sporting events and other activities. She was somewhat reserved in nature, but very much enjoyed journeys out and about town. Favorite past times included trips with her lay friends for an evening at the movies or to watch a play at the Iowa River Players in Rowan. Martha was also very much a farm wife and truly enjoyed driving the machinery and tasks of the farm throughout her life and even in the later years one could often find her sitting alongside someone else on the machinery. Martha was very active, an avid bowler and had participated on various leagues receiving many recognitions and pins for her scores and accomplishments. She had also competed several times in the state bowling tournaments. She had also been active with various women’s clubs and programs.

Martha truly enjoyed the simple pleasures of life including nature and farming, the thrill of competitions on the lanes and the always precious times and visits with her family members and friends. She had been a resident of Good Shepherd exactly one year on the day of her death. Prior to that she had spent a few months at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond and two years living at the Belmond Community Apartments.

Martha’s memory will live on in the hearts and minds of her surviving children: Lyle Klinge, Westminster, SC, Delorys “Dee” (Marv) Lonnevik, Britt, IA, and Kendal (Sue) Klinge, Belmond, IA, and step-daughter Roxanne Slining, Mason City, IA; numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Lucille Mennenga, her husbands Wayne and Robert, step-daughter Kathy Didio, step-son Lynn Slining; and a sister Maedeane Sappenfield. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
August 20, 2016