Obituary of Betty Martens

Betty D. Martens, age 77, of Swift Current, Saskatchewan passed away on May 13th, 2009 after a yearlong struggle with cancer. Betty is survived by three sons: Harry (Jacquie) Martens of Dewinton, AB; Ken (Val) Martens, Trevor, Andrew, and Sarah of Blumenhof, SK; Norman Martens (Sue Myhre) of Vernon, BC; one daughter, Alma (Tenny) Dirpaul, Sidney, and Stephanie of Saskatoon, SK; three sisters: Mary Kehler of Swift Current, SK; Nettie (Jacob) Friesen of McMahon, SK; Justina Wiebe of La Crete, AB; five sisters-in-law: Mary Krahn of Rosenhof, SK; Tina Kroeker of Swift Current, SK; Mary Martens of Blumenort, SK; Gertie Dueck of Swift Current, SK; Nettie Ens of Swift Current, SK. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Peter in 1990; her father, Abram in 1952; mother, Sarah in 1951; five sisters: Helen, Margaret, Sarah, Katherine, Eva; and two brothers: John and Anthony. Betty was born on June 16th, 1931 in a farmhouse south of Blumenhof. The family moved to a small two-room house on a farm west of Wymark, SK, where she grew up with eight sisters and one brother. In her own personal hand-written testimony, Betty described herself as a “happy little girl who sang over and over ‘Come into my heart, Lord Jesus’”. She went to Montford School and quickly developed a deep love of reading. She attended the Sommerfeld Church in Schoenfeld with her family and was baptized there at the age of 18. On November 16th, 1952, she married Peter D. Martens. They moved to Peter’s parents’ homestead which was across the road from the farmhouse where she was born. Two boys, Harry and Ken, were born while living in a house with no electricity and no running water. In 1959, they moved to Blumenhof where they established a new farm and continued to raise their family. Two more children, Norman and Alma, were born to them. Betty enjoyed keeping a neat yard filled with flowers. She loved gardening and put many vegetables away for the winter in her pantry. She took an active role working together with her husband to run the farm, everything from taking meals to the field, managing the chicken farm, or feeding the animals. Peter and Betty were active members of Blumenhof Church. In 1990, after 37 years of marriage, Peter passed away suddenly causing her to move to Swift Current. Betty began to pursue other interest including: travel, quilting, reading, jigsaw puzzling, baking, and spending time with her grandchildren. In Swift Current she attended Cornerstone Fellowship Church where she enjoyed helping in the kitchen and making quilts for needy families. Betty enjoyed an active, independent life always putting in a garden and many flowers even at her house in the city. Betty’s children would like to thank Dr. Keith in Saskatoon, Dr. Savoy and Dr. Johnston in Swift Current and the many nurses and support staff that cared for her while in hospital. Donations may be made to Gideon’s International in memory of Betty D. Martens. Funeral arrangements were in care of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home. Please visit our website at parksidefuneralhome.com to sign the family book of condolence.