Dorothy L. Martin

Dorothy L. Martin
February 07, 1915 - December 17, 2013
Kalona formerly of Wellman
Visitation: 4-7 PM December 19, 2013 at Yoder-Powell Funeral Home, Kalona
Funeral Service: 2:00 PM December 20, 2013 at Wellman Mennonite Church
Interment: December 20, 2013 at Wellman Cemetery
Dorothy Troyer Martin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Pleasant View Home in Kalona. Dorothy was a mother to 5, grandmother to 12, great grandmother to 26, and a great-great grandmother to 1. She baked great pies, made decorative candles, crocheted pretty doilies, painted rocks and collected teddy bears. She liked little dogs and was always good to her (deserving) sons-in-law. She was afraid of swimming pools and hated cats. She was not afraid of work; in fact she created and ran her own store, the "Hill Top Shop" for a number of years where she sold many of the things she loved to make. In many ways she saw the best of times and the worst of times. Born in 1915, she lived through the great depression of the 30's and was married to William E. Martin on November 25, 1934 near the end of hard times. With hard work, she saw the economy turn around. She milked cows, tended turkeys and raised her family until she and Bill turned the home place over to their oldest son in 1962. Dorothy saw her family mature and take their place in the world, except her oldest son who died in an accident shortly after taking over the home place to farm. As the youngest of 9 children, and fatherless at the age of 5, she learned to depend on her older brothers and sisters. She knew that she could count on them, but to look out for tricks played on her by her brothers. She and her brother Raymon entertained themselves, as well as others, by playing the guitar, harmonica and singing. Her grandchildren loved to hear her play the guitar and harmonica at the same time. When she was living in her own home, there was always a cup of coffee and pie for anyone stopping in. She read the Bible daily, kept a diary, she was a faithful member of the Wellman Mennonite Church, and never knew a stranger. Dorothy was a woman of her own time and generation. Her family includes her children; Bernita Boyts (Harold) of Hesston, KS; Carol Bontrager (Ray) of Hutchinson, KS; Gary Martin (Mary) of Newton; Cheryl Martin-Miller (Wendell) of Iowa City; grandchildren; Michelle Boyts, Mike Boyts, Eric Boyts, LuCinda Schooks, Robert Bontrager, Kristin Morris, Denise Downing, Debra Moore, Jeff Martin, Aaron Martin, M Jeremy Ours, Joel Ours; 26 great grandchildren; and one great- great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son Larry, two sisters Barbara Yoder and Alma Troyer; and six brothers Chris, Ezra, Raymon, Willis, Orval and Charles. Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, December 20, 2013 at the Wellman Mennonite Church. Pastor Nathan Ramer and Pastor Don Patterson will officiate. Burial will be in the Wellman Cemetery in Wellman. Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Thursday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona.