Elvira Ann Martin 83, formerly of Gladstone joined her eternal family on Monday, April 28, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center, Dickinson. Elvira’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 3, 2014 at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Gladstone, with Fr. Boniface Muggli, OSB as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., Friday, with Deacon Ron Keller presiding, and Juanita Dorner leading the rosary.
Elvira was born on June 18, 1930, daughter of John and Anna (Huth) Willer. She attended school in Gladstone, where she had perfect attendance from grade school to high school graduation. Elvira graduated from Capital Commercial College in Bismarck.
Elvira’s sparkling eyes and easy smile soon caught the eye of Anton Martin and they were married on July 27, 1954 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Gladstone. Family and farming were front and first as they began their life together on Anton’s family farm northeast of Gladstone. Their instant family included Anton’s seven younger siblings. Cooking, gardening, sewing and school and 4-H events became the way of life. Elvira and Anton were blessed with three children, Desiree, Rondee and Guy. Together they enjoyed dancing, playing cards, bowling, fishing, swimming, gardening and being outdoors. Elvira was also dedicated to keeping the Martin and Willer Family Record Books.
Her working career began at Conrad Publishing in Bismarck. She also worked for Gladstone Farmers Union, Carlson Construction and Western Livestock. Elvira was a volunteer fire fighter at the Yellowstone National Park fire while working for the US Forest Service, from which she retired. Anton died in 1998 and she moved to Dickinson.
Elvira was a kind and generous woman who gave back to her community in many ways. She was a 4-H and Cub Scout leader, a school and election board member and CCD teacher. Her time spent at San Haven, honed her creative talents in knitting, leather work, calligraphy, and cross-stitch. A talented seamstress, she sewed countless prom dresses, cheerleading uniforms, and alter server cassocks. She was a devoted member of St. Thomas Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, KC-Ettes and Homemakers.
Elvira especially loved being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. There was always room on Grandma’s lap, where the fun was ever-present and the word “no” was rarely heard. She was always happy to make, mend and repair anything for her grandchildren. Rodeos, hockey, basketball, volleyball, softball and football games, gymnastic meets, piano recitals and teaching them to drive were great fun for her. She ignited the passion in her grandchildren to raise peppers, pick juneberries and make strudel and sausage.
Elvira’s greatest contributions were the things that truly make life worth living. She was happy, loving and optimistic. She loved her family and friends unconditionally. She taught by example, with her honesty and patience, prayerfulness and selflessness, and how to appreciate the good in everything. Elvira had quiet strength and strong faith, praying her daily Rosary. She truly was the ‘wind beneath our wings’.
Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Desiree and Ron Havelka, Dickinson; Rondee and Kelly Hanna, Watford City; Guy and Jodi (Lefor) Martin, Gladstone. Her grandchildren: Patricia (Kautzman) (Troy) Ness, Hettinger; Brent (Amy) (Rominski) Havelka, Manvel; Kale (Savannah) (Daudt) Havelka, Dickinson; Kelcee (Hanna) (Jarrett) Wold, Watford City; Haylee (Hanna) (Jordan) Carlson, Powers Lake; Karlee Hanna (fiance Jared Bailey), Watford City; Brandi Martin, Gladstone; and Kasey Martin, Gladstone. Her 14 great-grandchildren: Anna, Olivia and Erica Havelka; Devon, Anthony and Zaylee Havelka; Vaeda and Baby (August 2014) Havelka; Eastyn, Emree, and Kolby Wold; Coy, (twins) Clancee and Quade Carlson. Her siblings, Diana Zedlar, San Jose, Calif.; Marcella (Gabriel) Quilici, Palm Desert, Calif., and Charles (Darlene) Willer, Dickinson. Sisters-in-law Helen Willer, Marian Bleth, Veronica (Alfred) Dassinger, Marlene Moore, Elaine (Bob) Burns, Joyce (Allen) Kostelecky; and Dorothy (Don) Auld; brothers-in-law Edwin Lefor and Allen Rust and her Hospice prayer partner, Juanita Dorner.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Anton; her grandson, Ryan Havelka; her parents; In-laws, Frank and Veronica (Gotterbarm) Martin; her brothers, Chester and Francis Willer; her brother-in-law Richard Zedlar; the Martin family: Frank and Dora Schummer, Ray and Margaret Haysom, Frank and Lena Martin, Ernest and Eva Focht, Peter and Ethelyn Martin, John Bleth, Andrew and Evelyn Sickler, Delores Lefor, Josephine Rust, LeRoy Martin and Jesse Moore.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to St. Thomas Catholic Church Cemetery; Mayo Clinic Stay Out of the Sun Run (Melanoma Research, 315 Nicklaus Drive NW, Rochester, MN 55901) or North Dakota Make-A-Wish Foundation.
