Martens, Lydia Eitzen (1899-1984)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 12 Jan 1984 p. 11

Birth date: 1899

text of obituary:

LYDIA EITZEN MARTENS

Lydia Eitzen Martens was born on Dec. 22, 1899 in Fairview, Okla., to Daniel C. and Elizabeth Wiens Eitzen. They had homesteaded in the newly-opened territory of Oklahoma, and her early life was spent in the dug-out home of that time.

Later the family moved to Aulne, Kan., and then to Orange, Calif., and to rural Dinuba, Calif. in 1914 she accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and was baptized the same year by Peter Richert in the Traver Canal south of Reedley. She joined the Mennonite Brethren Church.

Lydia attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, working in a tearoom during those school years. She married Henry Martens on Aug. 3, 1922, in the Reedley MB Church, with her father officiating. She remained a faithful wife and mother for over 61 years.

To help the family budget, she worked as a floor lady in packing houses, as well as in cannery work. She faithfully imparted the word of God to her children, to many Sunday school classes and in community bible studies for almost 50 years.

Approximately 11 years before her death she suffered a stroke, which reduced her level of activity. Her death came as a result of heart failure on Nov. 19, 1983, at the age of 83.

Surviving are her husband; one son, Stanley and wife Ann; one daughter, Ruth and husband Glen Grauman; brothers and sisters, Peter D. Eitzen, Mary Wiens, Hulda Berg, Jacob Eitzen, Sarah Willems and William Eitzen; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were two brothers, John and an infant brother; two sisters, Agnes Reimer and Hannah Eitzen; and a grandson.