Gladys Brekke Martz

Gladys Brekke Martz

Services for Gladys Brekke Martz, 98 were held Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 at Faith Pentecostal Church in Spencer. Rev. Dale Hodges officiated the service.

Interment took place at Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids.

Gladys Brekke Martz was born in Linn Grove, on Feb. 13, 1910, to Charles and Olga Brekke. She was baptized in the Presbyterian Church and attended schools in Linn Grove, Highview, Cornell, and Sioux Rapids. At the age of fourteen, she was confirmed into the First Lutheran Church of Sioux Rapids by Reverend K. G. Hatlen. Gladys graduated from the Sioux Rapids School in 1927, and for two years she made her home with Dr. and Mrs. Troy Swallum. In 1929 she married Leonard Martz of Sioux Rapids in the Lutheran parsonage with Pastor K. G. Hatlen officiating.

The couple moved to the George Martz farm southeast of Sioux Rapids. Leonard and Gladys purchased and managed the family farm where they raised their four children: Leonard (Dick), Diane, Sandra, and Nancy. They lived on the same farm for 43 years until her husband was killed in a lawn mower accident in 1972. Gladys continued her residence there and managed the farm for another fourteen years. In 1986 she retired from farm life at the age of 76 and moved to the home of her daughter, Diane in Ruthven. In 1991 she became a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Ruthven.

In May of 1999 she and Diane moved to Everly, where she resided until her death. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Martz of Sioux Rapids; her son, Dr. Leonard, Martz Jr. and wife, Louise of Alta; a daughter, Sandra Putnam of Everly; a son-in-law, Luther Zadow of Sioux Rapids; her parents, Charles and Olga Brekke of Linn Grove; one sister, Thelma McBride of Rock Rapids; and three brothers, Alvin Brekke of Pierce, Neb., Raymond Brekke of Pleasant Hill, Calif., and Ralph Brekke of Orleans, Mass.

Galdys is survived by her daughters: Diane Zadow of Everly, and Nancy Martz of Greeley, Colo.; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were handled by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home.