Martha Dahl

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Martha Johanna Dahl, 97, of Austin died Sunday evening, April 18, 2010, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin. 
She was born Feb. 18, 1913, to Ole Thomas and Clara Elsie (Holter) Grosland on the family farm near Northwood, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at the Bristol Lutheran Church in Worth County, Iowa. She attended school at Brookfield #3 Country School and Northwood High School. When Martha started school she spoke Norwegian and learned English in kindergarten. On July 22, 1930, she was united in marriage to Stewart Estes in Albert Lea, Minn. They were later divorced. During World War II, Martha worked as sewing machine operator for Munsingwear in Little Falls, Minn. On Sept. 13, 1947, she married Henry M. Dahl at Lake Minnetonka, Minn.  They lived in St. Louis Park, Rochester and Austin. Hank and Martha were self-employed as tailors for several years. She was Austin’s first meter maid lady and a sales representative for Playhouse Toys. She also delivered Winnebago motor homes to the west coast. She was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school, was a Stephens’s minister and held various leadership positions. She was a member of the Sons of Norway and an active member of the Republican Party.  She continued her education later in life attending classes at Austin Junior College.  Martha loved to travel and took four trips to Norway.
Martha is survived by her son, Dean (Mary) Estes of Avondale, Ariz.;  14 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn Garnas of Clear Lake, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Beverly Estes of Northwood, Iowa; her dear friend and Stanley’s life partner, June Varner of Little Falls; sister-in-law, Della Grosland of Mason City, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends. 
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Dahl on March 5, 1987; three sons, Maynard Estes, Stanley Estes and George Dahl; a great-grandson, Matthew Walter; and seven brothers, Oscar, Carl, Louis, Elmer, Adolph, August and George Grosland.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, April 22, 2010 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. Ronald Barnett officiating. Interment will follow the service at Hillcrest Cemetery in Albert Lea. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at the Worlein Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. 
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Olaf Lutheran Church Foundation. 
Worlein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.