Martha Vaerst

Martha Vaerst, age 104, of Park Rapids, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2017. She was born on February 27, 1912 in Portland, Oregon to Ralph and Cora Wade. In 1914 the family moved to Park Rapids, Minnesota. Martha graduated from the Park Rapids High School and the Teacher Training Department. The following two years she taught in a rural school in Becker County. She then attended Moorhead State for two years. In the years following, Martha taught in Dorset, Laporte and Akeley. In 1939 she was united in marriage to Leslie Vaerst and they moved to Westwood, California. In 1946 they returned to Minnesota and resided in rural Akeley for two years before returning to Park Rapids and Martha returned to teaching. The family moved to Grand Rapids, where Martha taught until her retirement in 1968. She and her husband returned to Park Rapids in 1978, where she has since resided. Martha was preceded in death by her husband and parents. She is survived by her sons, Richard (Malinda) of Forest Lake and Marvin (Sharon) of Bemidji; seven grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. Graveside Services will be held later in the spring at Greenwood Cemetery, Park Rapids.

Funeral Home: Mattson Funeral Home 343 North Shore Drive Forest Lake, MN US 55025

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Previous Events

cemetery
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Service
Wednesday, June 21, 2017

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