Martha Linda Marie Blake

Martha L.M. Blake, 98 of Devils Lake, formerly of Starkweather and Cando, ND died on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Martha will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church, Starkweather. Rev. Robert Buechler will officiate and burial will be in the Trinity-Bergen Cemetery, rural Starkweather. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Martha will be her grandchildren, Kevin Blake, Laurie Kappes, Lana Abrigo, Karl Blake, Ryan Blake, Tyson Blake and Rebecca Connelly. Music will be provided by Elizabeth Berg, organist with special music by Martha’s great grandchildren, Bradley Kappes and Janelle Kappes. Martha Linda Marie Schumacher, the daughter of John and Caroline (Treibwasser) Schumacher was born, May 15, 1911 on the family farm in Towner County, near Egeland, ND. She attended school in Crocus Township. In 1920 she moved with parents, one brother and 2 sisters to California where they lived for two years, returning to North Dakota in 1922. Martha was united in marriage to Ernest Blake on October 18, 1935 in Devils Lake. They established their home on a farm, northwest of Egeland until 1941 when they bought a farm northeast of Starkweather. While living in the Starkweather area, Martha cooked at the Starkweather School for 6 years. Ernest passed away on March 9, 1969. Martha remained on the farm for a year, moved to Cando, ND where she lived for 16 years, then came to Devils Lake in 1986. In August of 2004, Martha moved to the Good Samaritan Center. Martha was a member of Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church and was active in the Ladies Aid. She also belonged to the Starkweather Birthday Club. Martha enjoyed traveling and went on many Bus Tours. Martha was a skilled knitter and shared her many creations with her family and friends. She especially enjoyed being with her family. As a widow for over 40 years, Martha lived her life with faith and determination to meet the challenges of each day. Martha is survived by her sons, Lavern Blake and his wife, Stella of Starkweather and Rudy Blake and his wife, Jan of Mead, Washington; Seven Grandchildren: Kevin Blake and his wife, Ursula~Laurie and her husband, Brent Kappes~Lana and her husband, Victor Abrigo~Karl Blake and his wife, Kimberly; Ryan Blake~Tyson Blake and his wife, Heather~Rebecca and her husband, Andy Connelly; Eighteen Great Grandchildren; Martha was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernest; three brothers and five sisters.