Martha M Schell

Martha was born October 29, 1922 in Rupert, Idaho, the eldest of the nine children of Anna and Charles Freiburger. She attended Rupert Elementary and High Schools and worked for JC Penney’s store after graduating. At age 16, she won first place in the Minidoka County News subscription contest and was very proud to turn over her prize winnings to her parents so they could pay their 1938 property taxes.

She married Casimir Schell on November 27, 1941 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Rupert and they bought a small farm at auction in Heyburn. Starting from scratch and a milk cow, Martha and Cas raised sugar beets, alfalfa, wheat and a large vegetable garden. Through much hard work and sacrifice, they raised seven healthy children.

Martha was known for crocheted doilies and scrumptious homemade pies for the church bazaar; making quilts and an afghan for each of her children and grandchildren; her thriftiness and efficiency; the ability to manage a canning vegetable garden and flocks of chickens; a sense of moral rightness and duty; care and concern for her husband and children; generosity to those in need; and faithfulness to Catholic principles. In 1958 she became a lunch cook for St. Nicholas Catholic School, and then manager of the program until 1963. They sold their farm in 1985 and retired comfortably to Jerome and then to Washington state.

She is survived by seven children: Rosemary Luckett, Manassas, Va.; Peter Schell, Elk, Wa.; Madaline Rodeen, Eugene, Or.; Jo Bramwell, Seattle, Wa.; Mike Schell, Yakima, Wa.; Lucy Chaffin, Oregon, Wi.; and Casimir Schell, Grandview, Wa., 23 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren; sisters Mary Bellem, Anne Lloyd of Rupert, Id. and brother Frank Freiburger of Rupert, Id.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Chuck and Ed, sisters, Bernadette, Edna and Clara and by her husband, Casimir.

Funeral Mass will be held in Yakima, Wa. at Holy Redeemer Parish on Wednesday June 25th at 7 pm. Rosary will be at Hansens Mortuary in Rupert, Id. on Friday, June 27th at 7 pm and a Communion Service will be also at Hansens Mortuary at 10 am on Saturday June 28th. Interment will follow at Minidoka Cemetery followed by a family gathering at St. Nicholas Hall.

The Schell family wishes to thank Apple Creek Adult care and also Heartlink Hospice for their loving and gentle care of Mom. Donations can be made to Apple Creek Adult Care, 513 West Washington Ave., Yakima, Wa. or Heartlinks Hospice, 3920 Outlook Rd., Sunnyside, Wa