Martha Hamre, age 90, of Erskine, Minnesota, formerly Gary, Minnesota, died Thursday, November 27, 2008, in Pioneer Memorial Care Center, Erskine.

Martha Ullestad was born August 28, 1918 at Radcliffe, Iowa the daughter of John and Sophie (Nes) Ullestad. At the age of five she moved with her family to a farm near Forest City, Iowa. In the late 1920's they moved to Thompson, Iowa and it was here she graduated from high school. Martha first attended Waldorf College in Forest City for one year and then attended Webster City College for a year. Martha then transferred to Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis where she received her degree. She taught school in different communities in both Iowa and Minnesota for several years. In the late 1940's Martha moved to the Gary community where she worked as a housekeeper. On July 1, 1950 Martha and Reuben Hamre were united in marriage at Thompson, Iowa. They made their home on the Hamre farm near Bear Park, Minnesota. They operated the farm until late 1980's when they moved to Ada, Minnesota. After Reuben's death in 1994, Martha continued to live in Ada for a short time before moving to Mankato to live with her sister Jennie. After a few years Martha needed to move into a nursing home due to her declining health. Martha had been a resident of the Pioneer Memorial Care Center, Erskine since 1999.

When Martha was younger, she was active in the Norman Lutheran Church where she was in ladies aid, circles and was the Sunday school superintendent for years. Martha loved working in her garden, raising flowers and enjoying their beauty. She was well known for her baking and sharing baked goods from her kitchen. Martha also loved just spending time visiting with her friends.

Martha is survived by one daughter, Marjorie (Armando) Cuellar, Holland, Michigan; two sons, Richard Hamre, Gary, Minnesota and James Hamre, Littlerock, Washington; seven sisters, Alice Johnson and Jennie Ullestad both of Mankato, Minnesota, Stella (Thomas) Dahl, Elmore, Minnesota, Judith (Don) Richards and Clara (Dale) Gettis both of Mason City, Iowa, Mavis (Dick) Erickson, Brainerd, Minnesota and Amy (Goodwin) Boyum, Kenyon, Minnesota and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by here husband, one sister and two brothers.

Funeral Services were Thursday, December 4 at 2:00pm in Faaberg Lutheran Church, rural Fertile, Minnesota. Pastor John Ahola officiated with Dorothy Harstad serving as organist. The pallbearers will be David Matson, Craig Garden, Wayne Haaland, Harry Kveno, Peter Moen, Rory Hamre and Phillip Hamre. Interment was in Norman Lutheran Cemetery, rural Gary, Minnesota.

Interment was in Norman Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fertile, Minnesota.