Martha Mary Strong, 93, of Belle Plaine, Iowa passed away Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Belle Plaine Specialty Care, in Belle Plaine.

Services are 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 23, 2018 at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service, Belle Plaine with Pastor Charles Johnson officiating.

Visitation is 12-2p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Rector Cemetery, Chelsea, IA. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com .

Martha Mary was born September 12, 1925 the daughter of Orie Winfield and Rose Elizabeth (Klenk) Beck. She attended rural country school in Chelsea until transferring to Belle Plaine where she walked five miles to school. Following school, she cleaned houses and worked at the papermill in Tama. October 26, 1945 Martha married Charles Howard Strong in Tama, IA. Following marriage Martha and Charles moved to Wenatchee, WA where she worked in the apple orchards. They later moved to Dysart and Clutier working for different farms along the way until moving to Luzerne, IA where she was a care taker.

Martha enjoyed cooking, gardening, canning, playing cards, crocheting, taking care of people, but most of all she loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church, Belle Plaine.

She is survived by her children, Kay Ellyn St. John, Margo (Richard) Allen of Belle Plaine both of Belle Plaine, Dale (Linda) Strong of Blairstown, IA, Karla (Scott) Mumby of Belle Plaine; 22 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren and 2 on the way.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles; daughter, Marsha Ohlen; son, Terry Strong; siblings, Louise Jacobi, Charlie Beck, Dale Beck, John Beck, Nathan Beck, and Gertrude McElroy; sons-in-law, Dale St. John, and William Ohlen.