Martha Humphries

Martha Marie Roth Wederspahn Humphries died March 1, 2012.

She was born July 14, 1919 in Lind, the eldest of four children of George and Bertha (Roloff) Roth. She and her brother Emil, and sisters Venita and Louella, grew up on the family farm.

When she was about 13, her father was killed in an automobile accident, and her mother moved to Odessa with her children, where Bertha met and married Conrad Schauerman.The family became much larger with seven stepbrothers and sisters. Martha went to Odessa High School and married her high school sweetheart Harvey Wederspahn. They had three children: Gary, Karen and Keith Wederspahn.

She married Donald Humphries in 1954 and began life as an Air Force spouse. They had a daughter Lois.

Martha enjoyed being a military wife. The family lived in Mississippi, Idaho, North Carolina, North Dakota and Louisiana and on some bases more than once. She and Don retired in Lacey in 1969.

Martha belonged to the Gloria Dei Lutheran church and was involved with the Wedding Guild and the Quilting Circle.

She was happiest when lots of family and friends were around, and she would cook for them all. Martha liked to cook old German recipes and we had a family favorite called Blena. Whenever a family member came from out of town, there would be a blena breakfast. Blena is a large potato pancake that became an anticipated family tradition.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, who died in 1996.

She is survived by her children Gary (Ann), Karen (Marvin), Keith (Eva), Lois (Blaine) and grandchildren Brad Levine, Kathy Chinn, Kristen Jochum, Maria Wederspahn, Anna Wederspahn and Lisa Wederspahn, as well as by great grandchildren Bradley, Lacey, Brady, Zoe, Makenna, Maddison, Henry and Ellen.