Martha (Lippert) Knodel -- 2007

The Burlington Record, Burlington, Colorado
Thursday, July 12, 2007

Martha Maria Knodel was born Sept. 17, 1919 at Cassia County, Idaho, the sixth child of Gottlieb and Christina (Docktor) Lippert. She died July 3, 2007 at the Cheyenne County Hospital at the age of 87.  The Lippert family moved to Cheyenne County, Kansas in 1920. Martha attended the Clough Valley country school 3 miles from home until the eighth grade.

She was confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church in 1932 by Pastor Otto Zeilinger. She worked for various farm families for the next 10 years, cooking, baking, cleaning, and caring for children. After the family moved into St. Francis, Kan., Martha was employed as a sales clerk at J.C. Penney.  On Oct. 30, 1949, she was wed to Arthur R. Knodel at Salem Lutheran Church. They moved to a farm 22 miles south-west of St. Francis. To this union, five children were born: Art Jr. (Ruben), Allen Ray, Edward Royce, John Gottlieb and Joan Annette. They spoke German at home exclusively until Ruben went to school. Martha's life centered around taking care of and providing for her family. She tended an enormous garden. She canned and preserved the food her family needed and shared the excess with friends and relatives. Self-sufficiency was an essential part of farm life: Consequently, Martha had a remedy for any, ailment. These cures were not always gentle, but certainly reliable.

Martha loved a challenge. She taught herself how to bake and decorate fancy cakes. Wedding cakes were her specialty. She was an accomplished seamstress. She sewed and maintained clothing for her entire family. In addition, she expressed her creativity through quilts, stuffed animals, and Barbie clothes, to name a few. Martha was active in various clubs including: River Valley EHU club, and Salem WELCA, where she held numerous offices. After the children were raised, Art and Martha had the opportunity to travel and visit their daughter. They visited Joan in Georgia, Louisiana, Florida,. New Jersey, Arizona, Wisconsin and Washington. Highlights included the Grand Canyon, Royal Gorge, the Everglades, and Yellowstone National Park.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers; Gottlieb, Jake and Rudy, sisters; Christina Schritter, Anna Lippert, Edna Walz, daughter-in-law; Cheryl Knodel, and step-grandson; John Holub.  Survivors include Art, her husband of nearly 58 years, children; Art . Jr. and Debbie of North Platte, Neb., Allen of Kanorado, Kan., Ed and Tonya of Burlington, John and Natalie of St. Francis, Kan., and Joan of Colby, Kan., 9 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, two sisters: Lydia Hilt of St. Francis, Kan., and Ruth Knodel of Burlington; sisters-in-law, Anna Lippert of Wray, Gladys and Jake Wilkening of Goodland, Kan., and Doris Knodel of Burlington, along with a host of friends and relatives.

Funeral service was held Saturday, July 7, 2007 at Salem Lutheran Church, rural St. Francis Kan. Officiates were Pastor Chris Farmer and Pastor Linda Walz, a niece.