Martha
F. Bantin, 91, peacefully passed away Friday, March 23, 2006 at Garden
Terrace Senior Care Facility in Federal Way , Washington . Visitation
will be 1-8 p.m., Thursday at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby.
Her funeral will be 2 p.m., Friday at the Whitted Funeral Chapel with burial
to follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
She is survived by one daughter, Roberta Larabee of Seattle, one sister Nell Pritchett of Butte and one brother, Clarence Ekholt of Kalispell and numerous nieces and nephews. Martha has three grandchildren, Terri Roberts, Linda Larabee and Michael Larabee. She also has four great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
She was born March 30, 1915 at Shelby to Oscar and Mary (Halen) Ekholt who immigrated from Norway and Sweden . Martha grew up on the family farm, the second eldest of five sisters and one brother. She attended school in Havre and Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School .
Martha married Leonard Bantin in1941. They made their home in Shelby , until Leonard passed away March 2, 1993, at which time she moved to Seattle to be with her daughter Roberta Larabee.
Martha enjoyed sewing, baking, gardening and was an avid golfer. Martha won several golf tournaments including Shelby Promoter Handicap on Sept. 21, 1967 and the Women’s City Golf Tournament on October 3, 1968. In her last years, her artistic talent led her to the enjoyment of creating beautiful ceramic pieces.
Martha became legally blind with macular degeneration but continued to get around her apartment. In the last year, Martha endured two hip replacements, due to falls.
Martha will be dearly missed, but now is in a place of peace, reunited with her husband.
Martha was preceded in
death by her parents; her husband Leonard, and three sisters; Galdys Clark,
Mabel Young, and Lil Rosenberger.
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