Martha Bucholz, age 86, of Gary, Minnesota, peacefully passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2012, at the Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley, MN.

Martha Ursula Stalboerger was born in Mahnomen, MN on October 21, 1926, to Michael and Margaret (Winter) Stalboerger of Waubon, Minnesota. Martha graduated from Waubon High School and was very proud to be the first of her siblings to graduate high school. She joined Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator in Detroit Lakes, MN and later took a promotion to Grafton, ND. During this time, she met and married the love of her life, Vernon Bucholz, and for the next 59 years made a home and raised their family on the farm near Gary. The first one up in the morning and the last one to bed in the evening, Martha was high energy and did everything with gusto. In 1987, when Vernon ended his farming career, Martha once again joined the work force and became a familiar and friendly face at the Red Apple Café in Mahnomen until her retirement at age 75 in 2001. She loved her family, the summer retreat at Tulaby Lake and was so proud to have celebrated her 50th Wedding anniversary in 2002 with friends and family.

Martha was a former active member of the St. Petri Lutheran Church until its closing. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, served as a member and officer of the Ladies Aid and various Circles and assisted with the annual Christmas program. Martha loved to garden, cook, bake, sew, quilt, make ceramics with her priority always family.

Martha is survived by a son, Mark (Deb) Bucholz, West Fargo, ND; two daughters, Rosiland Olson, Arlington, TX and Sheri (Greg) Smith, Carbondale, CO; five grandchildren: Brandon (Laura) Bucholz, Brittney Bucholz, Vicki McWilliams, Crystal (Steve) Keipert and Thor (Mavyn) Olson; and five great grandchildren: Lily and Roan McWilliams, Katelyn and Coleman Keipert and Thor Olson; two sisters: Dolores (Duane) Herfindahl, Grand Rapids, MN and Sally Herfindahl, Minnetonka, MN; five sisters-in-law: Kate Bucholz, Mahnomen, MN, Janice (Mike) Merck Eagan, MN, Audrey Stalboerger, Dilworth, MN, Doris Stalboerger, Champlin, MN, and Alvina Stalboerger, Waubun, MN; two brothers-in-law, Mike Merck, Eagan, MN, and Duane Herfindahl, Grand Rapids, MN and a wonderful extended family of nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents; brothers: Earl, Herbert, Walter, James, and Charles; a sister, Margie Sundburg and sister-in-laws Elaine Garden, Nona Stalboerger and brothers-in-law Nalton (Bud) Bucholz, and Ogden Garden.

Funeral Services were held on Friday, January 4, 2013 at 11 am at the Gary Lutheran Church, Gary. Visitation was Thursday from 5:30 pm with a Prayer Service at 6:30 pm, Anderson Funeral Home, Twin Valley. Visitation was also one hour prior to the services on Friday. Officiating was Pastor John Ahola with Alden Anderson providing special music.
Burial was at St. Petri Lutheran Cemetery, rural Gary, MN.