Martha Alida Nokes, 88, of Bertha died April 3, 2010, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bartlett Township, rural Verndale, with Reverend Robin Collins of Trinity Lutheran Church in Staples presiding.

Interment will be at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Bertha Township.

Arrangements are with the Domian-Anderson Funeral Home, Bertha.

Martha was born at home near Bertha on May 28, 1921, to Theodore and Meta (Koester) Groska. She graduated from Bertha High School and worked for many years as a nurse’s aid at the Theil Hospital in Bertha, Wesley Hospital in Wadena and the Bertha Memorial Hospital. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1972. She retired from Tri-County Hospital in Wadena in 1984.

Martha was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bertha and Trinity Lutheran Church, Hewitt. She became a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Staples in 2009.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Bertha, Ladies Aid and Bible study groups with the churches. She was also a Foster Grandmother with the Bertha Head Start Program.

She is survived by two daughters, Julia (James) Schrader of Avon and Marsha (Theodore, Sr.) Black of Verndale; two sons William (Gloria) Nokes and Dwight Nokes, both of Bertha and grandchildren, step-grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and stepgreat grandchildren; one sister-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; one sister-in-law; and one great-granddaughter. A00006B2010AR08