Martha Helen Gerard, went to be with her Lord, Jesus, on Saturday, October 8, 2016.
Martha was born the second of fourteen children of Jacob and Eriika (Ammala) Kotila on March 21, 1915, in rural Cokato. She was baptized and confirmed in the faith at the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church in rural Cokato, and as an adult she was an active and dedicated member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in French Lake. She lived in French Lake most of her life. Martha worked as a supervisor for Munsingwear in Minneapolis. She resided at Lake Ridge Manor in Buffalo for the past four years.
She was widowed twice and was preceded in death by her infant son, Dennis Gordon Gerard in 1945, her husband Glen Gordon Gerard in 1982, and her second husband, Arthur J. Johnson in 2000. She was also preceded in death by her sisters and spouses, Linda (Wayne) Harmala, Aune (Virgil) Matsen, Lillian (Harold) Matsen, Elsie Kotila, and William Kivisto; and her brothers and spouses, Eino Kotila, Alvin (Hazel) Kotila, Wayne (DeLores) Kotila, Milton Kotila, Reino Kotila, Wesley (Rosalie) Kotila, Roy (Darlene) Kotila, and Donald Kotila. She was also preceded in death by her Gerard and Johnson sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws.
She is survived by her step-children, Philip (Elizabeth) Johnson of Eugene, Oregon, and Carol (Stanley) Vander Kooi of Buffalo, as well as her grandchildren, Suzanne Johnson (Jarrell Johnston) and Corinne Johnson of Eugene, Oregon; Kyle (Karisa) Vander Kooi, and Stacy (Mark) Bajema of Buffalo. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Noah, Clare, and Jack Vander Kooi and Breanne, Eric, and Marie Bajema all of Buffalo.
She is also survived by her sister Helmi (William) Kivisto, Minneapolis, and sister-in-laws, Dorothy (Reino) Kotila of Cokato and Alvina (Donald) Kotila of Litchfield as well as many, many loving nieces and nephews and their families including great-great-great nieces and nephews.
She was quite surprised to have lived to be 101 and enjoyed the commotion of having six great-grandchildren to amuse her. Her quiet and calm presence, sisu, and her strong faith in Jesus as her Saviour will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
Funeral Service: 2 PM Saturday, October 15, 2016, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church of French Lake by Pastor Edward Groop.
Visitation: 1 hr prior to the funeral service
Interment: Riverside Cemetery.