Frances E. Marttila

Frances E. Marttila, 93, Aberdeen, SD formerly of Ellendale, ND died October 2, 2013 at Mother Joseph Manor, Aberdeen. Funeral services are 2:30pm Monday, October 7 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Ellendale with Pastor Galen Sylvester officiating. Visitation is 2-8pm Sunday with a prayer service at 4:30pm at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Visitation continues one hour prior to church services Monday. Burial is at Ellendale City Cemetery. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel. Frances was born February 23, 1920 in Ellendale, ND to John and Josephine (Boom) DuRand. Frances graduated from Ellendale High School in 1938, and attended St. Benedict’s College, St. Joseph, MN and State Normal and Industrial College, Ellendale. In 1942 she married John Schook, Jr. In 1954 she married Floyd “Augie” Marttila and together in Ellendale, they loved and raised their four children, Michael, Robert, Carol and Debra. They enjoyed a very good life in their Ellendale home until 1998 for medical reasons, they moved to Aberdeen. Augie preceded Frances in death October 16, 2000. Frances remained in Aberdeen, moving to Mother Joseph Manor in 2009. Frances worked as legal secretary in Portland, OR, Los Angeles, CA and in Ellendale for T.L. Brouillard and D.R. Crabtree. She was employed at State Normal and Industrial College as secretary to President J.C. McMillan and then Secretary-Registrar. Her final position in the business world was at First National Bank as teller and secretary-bookkeeper for Vic Steinwand at First National Insurance Agency. Frances enjoyed music, playing in piano contests in high school, knitting, crocheting, reading, computer, crossword puzzles and gardening, especially flowers. She was a member of St. Helena’s Catholic Church, Ellendale for many years where she learned to play the organ and was their organist. Later she became a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Ellendale where she was organist for 26 years. She will be remembered for her kindness, gentleness, wisdom and her never-failing spunk. Survivors include: two sons, Robert (Shirley) Marttila, Highlands Ranch, CO, Michael Marttila, White Bear Lake, MN; two daughters, Carol (R.Lee) Ginsbach, Aberdeen, SD, Debra Nordman, Superior, WI; one sister, Eunice Hess, Redding, CA, six grandchildren, Kim (Derek) Bradshaw, Woodbury, MN, Jeff Marttila, White Bear Lake, MN, Joan Marttila, Scottsdale, AZ, David (Lori) Marttila, Colorado Springs, CO, Cathy (Darren) Doyle, Centennial, CO, Rebecca Ginsbach, Webster, SD; 11 great grandchildren, Ashley, Jenna, Chris and Ryan Thompson, Ashley Ruth Marie, Alex and Chloe Macaulay, Ashley and Taylor Marttila, Addison and Dugan Doyle; three great-great-grandchildren: Kylie, Cadence Elaine and Baleigh. She was preceded in death by both husbands, parents, brothers Clarence, Clifford and Rolla “Pete” DuRand, sisters-in-law, Ingeborg (Herrmann) DuRand, Laura (Wescom) DuRand, brother-in-law, Merrill Hess and daughter-in-law, Mary Elaine (Crabtree) Marttila.