Martha Burtness, 95, died on Monday, March 7, 2011 at Sanford Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at Abundant Life Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Wesley Langaas officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from Noon until 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at the church.

Martha Julia Anderson was born on July 6, 1915 in Smiley Township, Pennington County, MN the daughter of Oscar and Charlotte (Hansson) Anderson. Martha grew up and attended Hiwatha School in Smiley Township. She was active in 4-H, Smiley Community Club and she played the mandolin in a small band with her sisters Ina and Harriet.

Martha was united in marriage to John Burtness on May 15, 1953. They lived on the farm in Silverton Township, Pennington County, MN. Together they operated a Grade A Dairy Herd and small grain farm, until John passed away in 1971. Martha continued to live on the farm with her daughters.

Survivors include three daughters, Sharon (Ron) Hamre, Wendy (Dale) Philipp and Rosalind (Mike) Keefe all of Thief River Falls; step-daughters, Patsy (Allen) Larson of Arizona, Deanna Morgan of Wisconsin; step-son, Richard (Anna Marie) Burtness of Colorado; grandchildren, Perry (Cheryl) Hamre, Peggy (Marlon) Knutson, John (Brenda) Hamre, Chanc (special friend, Crystal Lee) Keefe, Hamilton Keefe, and Johnnie Philipp; great grandchildren, Keegan & Amanda Hamre, Nicholi & Chelsey Knutson, Brady & Averi Hamre, Chantelle, Izaak Keefe, Alexis, Natalie & Kaitlyn Blaskowski; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John in 1971; her parents, Oscar and Charlotte; sisters, Harriet Anderson and Ina Myrom; brothers, Clarence, Wilhelm, Erland & Gote Anderson.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

PIANIST: Eunice Grothe
VIOLIN SOLO: Johnnie Philipp
CD SELECTIONS: Angels Among Us & God Bless The USA
CASKETBEARERS: Marthas Grandchildren: Perry Hamre, Peggy Knutson, John Hamre, Chanc Keefe, Hamilton Keefe, Johnnie Philipp
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Marthas Great grandchildren: Keegan & Amanda Hamre, Nicholi & Chelsey Knutson, Brady & Averi Hamre, Chantelle & Izaak Keefe, Alexis, Natalie & Kaitlyn Blaskowski