Marcella (Marti) was preceded in death by her parents, Frank White and Lupe White (Rubacalva) ; five sisters, Mary Medina, Josephine Freese, Connie Anderson , Marie Bratsch and Francis Menard; four brothers, Alfred Medina, Clifford Medina , Paul White, Gabriel (Gabby) White; husbands Paul Osnes and Hugh Townsend.
She is survived by her five children Linda (Ray) Almos of Bradenton, Florida, Rita Anderson of Edwards, Colorado, Sonia Kegler of Forest City, Iowa, Tom (Becky) Osnes of Chattanooga,
Tennessee, and Monica (Tim)Amstutz of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was blessed with nine grandchildren , seventeen great children and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister- in-law B.J. (Warren) Overlie, and brother-in-law Cliff (Carol) Johnson.
Marcella (Marti) was born on December 5, 1933, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Marti and Paul were in married in 1950 and built their home in Forest City, Iowa, in the beautiful woods near Grandpa and Grandma John and Barbara Osnes. They built and grew Osnes Paint and Wallpaper into a successful business. The family took numerous Christmas trips to Mexico where they distributed clothing, toys, and candies to those in need throughout the villages and towns. Marti and Paul loved to travel. Their travels took them to Nigeria, Israel, Italy, Germany, France, South America, Greece, and throughout the continental United States.
Marti enjoyed gardening, playing Hawaiian guitar, and singing in her church choir. In her earlier years she was involved in synchronized swimming , bowling, roller skating, and was an avid water skier. Camping on the weekends was a big part of her family. Once the children were older Marti and Paul enjoyed hosting everybody at their rustic Lake Washington house near St. Peter, Minnesota. Each of Marti’s children received handmade quilts when they got married and she continued the tradition of making quilts for each grandchild. She was an astute business partner with Paul, and an amazing mother to her children.
She made it a priority to not only visit her children’s homes, but her grandchildren and great children in their respective states. While hosting the annual Paul Osnes Christmas gathering, the family celebrated their combined traditions of Norwegian lefse and Mexican tortillas with Chile Con Carne.
In the early 80’s Marti and Paul began their snowbird adventures in Florida. Special friendships were developed, golf was learned, watercolor art classes taught, church family community formed, and Bible studies started. Paul and Marti’s children and their families enjoyed invading their Bradenton, Florida residence every winter.
In September of 2006, Marti lost the first love of her life, Paul Osnes. Fifty six years of marriage added to the great legacy she has left her children, grandchildren and their children. In 2013 new love bloomed at the young age of 80. On September 14, 2013, Hugh Townsend and Marti took their vows to love and cherish one another for the remainder of their years. They truly adored each other and loved the Lord together. On June 6, 2017, Hugh took a short walk near their Bradenton home and in the twinkling of an eye, walked through the open door to Heaven. Though the years were too short, Marti always declared, “I am truly a blessed woman.”
Marti was a beautiful woman; it wasn’t just a physical beauty, but an inner beauty due to her devotion to her Heavenly Father. Marti’s love for the Lord was evident in her words and her actions. Marti loved to worship the Lord, study His word, and pray. She was passionate about texting and emailing encouraging prayers and words to her friends, children and grandchildren. Praying for her children, grandchildren, and great-grand children was a high priority. In 2019 Marti wrote about LEGACY. She wrote, “I won’t have a legacy housed in some library bearing my name, but I hope it to be housed in the hearts of my grandchildren and their children. The best inheritance I can leave the next generations is for them to know that God is real and that He loves you!”
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