Martha "Toots" Mary Kruse

NOTICE: Sibley, Iowa Martha M. Toots Kruse, age 97 of Sibley, IA died Friday, November 6, 2009 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, Iowa. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 9th at the Zoar Presbyterian Church in rural George, with Reverend Dale Lint officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery of Little Rock, IA. Visitation will be Sunday, November 8th from 2- 6 p.m., with the family present from 4-6 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Martha Mary (Klaassen) Kruse was born on April 19, 1912 in George, Iowa, the daughter of Andrew and Anna (Hassebroek) Klaassen. Martha attended Kelso Country School, Grant #4 in Lyon County, Iowa. She then worked as a hired girl for Cook Klaassen. On June 30, 1939, she was united in marriage to Albert Ole Kruse in Sioux Falls, SD. The couple began farming in 1940, south of Little Rock, Iowa and on March 1, 1948 they moved to a farm south of Sibley. Martha worked at a caf in downtown Sibley for a time. She also made many pies and served at the lunch counter at the Sibley and Sheldon sale barns. Martha and Ole raised chickens and delivered many eggs. She enjoyed being outside tending to her flowers and yard, and playing Rummikub with her friends. Martha loved kids and was called Grandma by many. She was known for always having the coffee pot on and blueberry muffins ready to serve to her family and friends. Martha is survived by one daughter, Melinda L. Good and Lester Brieden of Kingsbury, TX; one brother, William Klaassen of Sheldon, IA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albert Ole Kruse in 1995; infant daughter, Audrey Jane; two sisters, Caroline R. Geerdes and Hattie E. Van Briesen; and one brother, Harm Klaassen.