Clara Josephine Martin, age 98, of Twin Valley, Minnesota, formerly Gary, Minnesota, died Monday, November 15, 2010, at the Twin Valley Living Center.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the chapel of the Anderson Funeral Home in Twin Valley at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday,November 21st . Prior to this service, friends and family are invited to a graveside service at 1:00 p.m. at St. Petri Lutheran Church of rural Gary.

Clara was born on March 29, 1912, to Syver and Anna Vesledahl on a farm west of Winger, Minnesota. When she was ready to attend ninth grade, she boarded at a home in Mahnomen, Minnesota, along with two older sisters, in order to complete the next four years of her schooling. She graduated from Mahnomen High School in 1930 and moved to Bemidji, Minnesota, to attend and graduate from Bemidji Normal School.

For several years, Clara was a country schoolteacher in the rural Gary, Minnesota, area. In 1937, she married Harold (Spike) Martin, who farmed east of Gary in Waukon Township. She lived on the Martin homestead for several years, giving birth to a son and two daughters. In approximately 1947, she and Harold purchased the adjoining farm and moved into the house previously owned by Crist Hanson. She continued to live in this home until she moved to Twin Valley in 1980.

Clara was a dedicated, independent farm wife. She canned and froze produce from her large vegetable garden, picked wild berries for sauces and jellies, and enhanced the farmstead with flowers. She earned the reputation of being an excellent cook for the hired hands who helped out during the harvest season. She was a frequent auction goer and delighted in buying dilapidated antique furniture, which she refinished and turned into beautiful pieces for her home and her daughters.

Her country church, St. Petri, where she was a life-long member, and her farm neighbors formed her social circle of friends. She was active in the church's Ladies' Aid and Circles, and participated in all the usual church-centered activities. After moving to Twin Valley, she took painting classes from Evie Christianson of Gary. Her favorite subjects for this painting hobby were rural scenes and animals. She had a passion for reading newspapers, and continued this interest even after she moved to the Living Center in 2008. Clara loved animals and always had a dog as her home companion.

She is survived by daughters, Karen and Becky (Brian) and grandsons, Shad and Josh, plus several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by infant son, David; husband Harold; parents Syver and Anna Vesledahl; brothers and sisters Melvin, Oscar, Mabel, Lewis, Martin, Ethel, Agnes and Arthur.

The family suggests memorials to the St. Petri Cemetery Fund, the Humane Society of America (or your local humane society) or a charity of the donor's choice.