ALVINA VIOLA MARTINSON

Alvina V. Martinson, 90 of Devils Lake, ND passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake on Tuesday, October 2, 2012. Funeral Services for Alvina will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Alvina’s grandchildren, Steven Martinson, Stephanie Martinson, Shawn Martinson, Michael Martinson, Aaron Martinson, Shane Martinson, James Bertsch, Nancy Thompson, Michelle Adams and William Shelver will serve as Casket Bearers. Honorary Bearers will also be Alvina’s grandchildren Janet Senger, Suzanne Rheault, Jody Sanderson, Chad Martinson, Mary Casmey, Jennifer Johnson, Stacie Ragan, John Avila and Matthew Avila. Special music will be provided by Carmen and Angela Loff. There will be Congregational Hymns with Elonda Nord as organist. Alvina Viola, daughter of John and Bertha (Schoenborn) Schumacher was born on February 19, 1922. Alvina was born in Egeland, ND where she was reared and educated, graduating from Egeland High School. She was a baptized and confirmed member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Egeland and was also united in marriage to Orville E. Martinson of Perth, ND on November 16, 1944 at the Trinity Lutheran Church. After their marriage, Alvina and Orville established their home in Michigan, ND where she was a devoted wife and dedicated her life to raising her six children. In 1952, the family moved to Devils Lake and as the children were older, Alvina worked at Woolworth’s, Montgomery Ward and Manns Department Store. She retired from the Montgomery Ward Catalog Store in 1984. Orville died on April 2, 1995 and Alvina continued to make Devils Lake her home and lived on her own into her mid 80’s. For the past five years, Alvina has been a resident of the Good Samaritan Center. Alvina was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Egeland, the Free Lutheran Church in Michigan and since moving to Devils Lake an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. She was a member of the LWML (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League) and served as the treasurer for many years and also was one of St. Peter’s Quilters. As the mother of a large family, many pastimes were out of necessity. Alvina always had a large garden and canned and processed the produce to feed family and share with friends and neighbors. She was a talented seamstress, again that meant she was able to sew many of her children’s clothing. Alvina was an excellent cook and sharing her creations brought her so much joy. Almost every Sunday morning, any family member that went to church would be invited to Alvina’s after services for “homemade cinnamon rolls”. Many times that was a house full of 20 or more people. But that was just a testament of her love of family, her faith and her being such a loving and caring person. Alvina is survived by her children and their spouses. Elaine Bertsch, Leon and Shirley Martinson all of Devils Lake, Myron and Sharon Martinson of Thompson, ND, Sandra and Ron Smith of Canon City, CO, Gary and Linda Martinson also of Devils Lake and Bonnie and Peter Avila of Stockton, CA; nineteen grandchildren; thirty-six great grandchildren; one great great grandson; five step grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law Harvey and Mary Schumacher of Egeland; sisters and brothers-in-law Erma Morlock and Florene and Harold Nielson all of Devils Lake, Rena Clouse of Arizona, Isabelle Morlock of Cando, ND and Ella and George Timian of Langdon, ND and many nieces, nephews and their families. Alvina was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orville; son-in-law Edward Bertsch; infant great great granddaughter Anna Garcia Senger; brother Alvin Schumacher and sisters Edna Andrick and Lenora Helgeson.