Martha Rhoden

Martha Belle Rhoden was a great homemaker and Mother, but "she wrote the book on being a Grandma!" Martha passed into Heaven Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the tender age of 96. She was residing close to relatives, at the Big Meadows Nursing Facility, in Savanna, Illinois.
As Grandma, her time was sought after by her grandchildren, each making long summer visits to experience life, surrounded by her care and love. She was a planner, and if Grandpa was taking the grandchildren fishing, or on a field-trip, Grandma Martha would always pack a special lunch. Everyone in the family looked forward to enjoying her Swedish-influenced recipes that included cookies, Rusk rolls and Buttercups. New Year’s Eve was one of her favorite holidays with the Grandkids, quite often celebrating as late as 8pm. "Grandma" was something that Martha loved to be, her lessons will live on through her family.
Martha will be dearly missed by her two daughters, Charlotte Fell of Alexis, Illinois and Sharon (Ancil) Guilinger of Savanna, Illinois; eight grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and one great-great grandson. Martha is preceded in death by her husband, Richard; two brothers, William and Robert Perry Anderson; her sister, Catherine Wilson; and a son-in-law Eugene Fell.
Martha was born December 4, 1917 in Clearfield, Iowa, the daughter of Howard F. and Blanche (Franklin) Anderson. She was just four years old when her mother, Blanche died. Howard's sister, Auntie Florence was there to help raise the four children until Howard remarried to Grace Joyce. Martha is a graduate of the Ashland, Nebraska High School and then received her Teaching Certificate from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. She taught two years in a one-room country school. On August 18, 1938 Martha married Richard H. Rhoden in Ashland, Nebraska. Their family grew with two daughters, Charlotte and Sharon. In 1948, the family moved to Little York, Illinois and in 1961 they moved to Monmouth, Illinois. Wherever the family moved, Martha was sure to make the old-farm house into a "home." She worked in the kitchen at the Little York School while her children attended, and later worked 10 years for the Form Fit Garment Factory in Monmouth. Martha was a member of the United Methodist Church in Little York, Monmouth, and later Savanna.
A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 13, 2013 at the United Methodist Church, Savanna, Illinois with Reverend Sejoon Jang officiating. Memorial visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the Church. Burial of ashes will be at a later date in the Alexis City Cemetery. Memorials may be given for the United Methodist Church, Savanna.