By Lori Ehde
Longtime Luverne resident Martha Piepgras died on Christmas Day at the age of 93.
Though she hailed from Mountain Lake, she lived most of her life in Luverne and considered the community her home.
Her life was filled with professional and volunteer accomplishments, but friends who knew her say she'll most be remembered for her friendly disposition.
"She was a very caring person," said Martha's longtime friend, Grace Loose, Luverne.
Bob Keitel, Luverne, knew Martha for 50 years. The Keitels and Piepgrases were neighbors, and their children grew up together.
He said Martha was a doer - from church commitments to community volunteerism. "She was extremely dedicated," Keitel said.
But he agreed Martha's personality is what defined her.
"She was very talkative," Keitel recalled, "and one of the dark points in her life was when she had laryngitis and couldn't speak. That was just the talk of the town that Martha couldn't make a sound."
He said she faced her share of personal challenges, but he described her as a "tough, resilient woman," which he said reflects on her strict Mennonite upbringing. "They don't get beaten down very easily."
Keitel said he remembers when Martha and Mildred (Skewes) came to Luverne the same year as teachers and double dated with Mort and Elmer.
"Elmer was a young secretary at E.A. Brown Elevator, and Mort was a young attorney who had just hung out his shingle."
Jesse Haggard, Luverne, was a dear friend of Martha's and a cousin of Elmer.
She also recalls those early dating years. "Elmer and Mort were such good friends, and Mort needed a date, so Mildred would come along," Haggard said.
Martha didn't teach very long, because she married Elmer in 1936 and in those days a teacher couldn't be married, so she quit, Haggard said.
But she said Martha continued tutoring and became especially good at helping students with special needs.
Haggard said she and Martha used to take long drives in the country and used to have daily contact. "I have missed her," Haggard said. "We had a lot of fun together."
When Martha's health started to fail, she moved to Rochester in 1996 to be closer to her son, David.
"We all said when she moved to Rochester she'd know everyone in those (apartments) in 15 minutes," Haggard said. "She was friendly to everyone. If she didn't know someone, she'd ask their name and tell them hers."
Memorial services were Saturday in Rochester, and another will be scheduled in Luverne.