Obituary for Martha Ann North (Dent)
Martha Baxter North passed away peacefully on March 2, 2019 in her sleep in her home at Friendship Village of Bloomington MN.
Martha was born in Montgomery West Virginia on October 4, 1922. She graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology with a degree in Business Education. She met Jacob Baxter at church while he was attending WVIT. She graduated college on a Friday and married Jake on Sunday. They lived briefly in New Haven CT then moved to Champaign IL where they raised two daughters, Jane and Kathy.
After Jake’s death in 1969, Martha was a widow for 18 years before marrying her church minister, Jack North. He was father to four children – Charlotte, David, John and Becky- which Martha fondly referred to as her “bonus children.” Martha and Jack lived in Springfield MO. After Jack’s death in 2010, Martha stayed in Springfield until moving to Friendship Village of Bloomington in MN in 2017.
Martha was active in church activities of all kinds, was church secretary for several years before her employment at the University of Illinois where she was secretary to the Dean of the College of Education. Music was an important part of her life from childhood through singing in a Senior Saints choir at her church in Springfield. She was very involved in the activities of her girls including church, scouts, dancing and piano lessons. Her home was happy, warm and welcoming and often last minute guests were included at the dinner table. Her love of bridge, knitting and tatting helped her integrate into Friendship Village activities where she made good friends easily.
Her positive attitude, friendly smile and love toward all she met is a testament to her strong faith and belief in a loving, inclusive and welcoming God. She led by example.
She is survived by a brother, Morris Dent (Eleanor), a sister, Adrah Payne(Donald) and sister-in-law, Mary Beth Dent; her six children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
We will all miss her sweet and happy disposition and will be led forward by remembering how she lived a full and happy life until her peaceful death.
Memorials may be made to:
Friendship Village Foundation or Friendship Village EAF
8100 Highwood Dr
Bloomington MN 55438
North Fellowship
Garrett Evangelical
2121 Sheridan Rd
Evanston IL 60201
Baxter Family Endowment
Champaign First United Methodist Church
210 West Church St
Champaign IL 61820
Or donor's choice
Martha was born in Montgomery West Virginia on October 4, 1922. She graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology with a degree in Business Education. She met Jacob Baxter at church while he was attending WVIT. She graduated college on a Friday and married Jake on Sunday. They lived briefly in New Haven CT then moved to Champaign IL where they raised two daughters, Jane and Kathy.
After Jake’s death in 1969, Martha was a widow for 18 years before marrying her church minister, Jack North. He was father to four children – Charlotte, David, John and Becky- which Martha fondly referred to as her “bonus children.” Martha and Jack lived in Springfield MO. After Jack’s death in 2010, Martha stayed in Springfield until moving to Friendship Village of Bloomington in MN in 2017.
Martha was active in church activities of all kinds, was church secretary for several years before her employment at the University of Illinois where she was secretary to the Dean of the College of Education. Music was an important part of her life from childhood through singing in a Senior Saints choir at her church in Springfield. She was very involved in the activities of her girls including church, scouts, dancing and piano lessons. Her home was happy, warm and welcoming and often last minute guests were included at the dinner table. Her love of bridge, knitting and tatting helped her integrate into Friendship Village activities where she made good friends easily.
Her positive attitude, friendly smile and love toward all she met is a testament to her strong faith and belief in a loving, inclusive and welcoming God. She led by example.
She is survived by a brother, Morris Dent (Eleanor), a sister, Adrah Payne(Donald) and sister-in-law, Mary Beth Dent; her six children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
We will all miss her sweet and happy disposition and will be led forward by remembering how she lived a full and happy life until her peaceful death.
Memorials may be made to:
Friendship Village Foundation or Friendship Village EAF
8100 Highwood Dr
Bloomington MN 55438
North Fellowship
Garrett Evangelical
2121 Sheridan Rd
Evanston IL 60201
Baxter Family Endowment
Champaign First United Methodist Church
210 West Church St
Champaign IL 61820
Or donor's choice