Ruth Selma Martens

Ruth Selma Martens was born on October 13, 1914 to Pastor Emil and Ida Grosshans Rieber in Webster City, IA. Ruth started school in Archibald, OH. The family moved to Minneapolis and then Raymond, MN where Ruth graduated from high school in 1932. She attended two years of college at St. Paul's Luther Jr. College and continued her education at the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis graduating in 1937. Ruth married John A. Martens on April 23, 1944 at Mansfield Lutheran Church. Her father officiated the wedding ceremony. John was on leave from the Army. He and Ruth left immediately following the ceremony for Army training camp in Michigan. Ruth was a loving wife and mother. She and John were married for 53 years. Ruth worked at Wilmar Hospital, Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines and at a hospital in Ft. Worth, TX while her husband served in the United States Army. She later was employed at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, preformed private duty nursing and was a nurse at St. John's Lutheran Home for 17 years until her retirement. Ruth and John owned Martens' Service in Mansfield from 1948 until John's retirement. Ruth's kitchen table was renowned for many a cup of coffee and goodies for friends and customers. Ruth was an active member of the Mansfield Lutheran Church. She was a member of the altar guild, taught Sunday school classes, served as the secretary of the church and was a past president of their women's group. Ruth was one of the original Lutheran church basement ladies. Ruth moved to Knutson Place in April of 2000 where she lived until her death. She continued to be active as a volunteer at St. John's until her eyesight failed. Ruth was a fantastic cook and especially loved baking cookies, breads and cakes. She enjoyed doing hand-work and reading. Ruth loved to garden and preserve her produce. She enjoyed family history and was known as the family historian. In addition, she was an avid letter writer. Survivors include her son, John and wife Pam Martens of Jackson, MN; grandsons, John and Michael Bonnes; granddaughter, Jaclyn and husband Tylor Peterson; great-grandson, Dylan Paulson; sister-in-law, Olga Rieber; three nieces and one nephew. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; a son and daughter in infancy; and brothers, Martin Rieber and Carl Rieber.