Martha L. Anderson

Martha Louise (Mayer) Anderson, age 89, of Arapahoe, Nebraska went to her Heavenly home on Friday, August 12, 2022 at Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell, Nebraska. Viewing and visitation will be Wednesday, August 17, 2022 from 1 PM to 6 PM at Garey Funeral Chapel, 652 Main St., Arapahoe, Nebraska with family present from 3 PM till 5 PM. Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, August 17^th, 2022 at 7 PM at St. Germanus Catholic Church, Arapahoe, Nebraska. Mass will be Thursday, August 18^th, 2022 at 10:30 AM at St. Germanus Catholic Church, Arapahoe, Nebraska with Father Kenneth Wehrs, officiating. Burial will follow at Arapahoe Cemetery, Arapahoe, Nebraska. Service will be Livestreamed on Garey Funeral Home Arapahoe Facebook page for those who wish to attend but cannot. Garey Funeral Home of Arapahoe, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences and personal reflections may be left at gareyfuneralhome.com

Martha was born on October 28^th, 1932 in Furnas County, Nebraska to Hubert and Hattie (Beeler) Mayer. She grew up on the farm in Furnas County, where she helped raise Hereford cattle. When she was 16 years old, she took a carload of bulls to Denver, Colorado on a train, which she rode on by herself. Martha attended country school and graduated from Arapahoe High School with the class of 1950. She passed a four-month course and then taught country school for one year. Martha also worked for the FDIC during the farm crisis in the 1980’s.

Martha was united in marriage to William “Bill” Junior Anderson on February 27^th, 1954. To this union, the ‘6 T’s’ were born: Verne “Tony” (Keri), Tim (Pam), Todd, Tammy (Harlan Grunden), Tonna (Ron Drudik), and Trudy (Mike Nolles). They made their home in rural Gosper County, where they raised Hereford and dairy cattle, hogs, horses, corn, wheat, soybeans, milo, and hay. Bill and Martha both purchased their childhood homesteads, and in 2019, Martha received the Aksarben Pioneer Farm Family Award for both farms being in the family for 100 years.

She was heavily involved in the 4-H program for seventy years, which includes her own childhood membership and assisting with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with their livestock and other projects. For a number of years, Martha served as the beef superintendent. Other Hereford Associations she was involved with are: the Old Reliable, Southwest Nebraska, and Hear of Nebraska. Martha also served as the president of the Nebraska Hereford Auxiliary. She was an active member of the St. Germanus Catholic Church and Altar Society.

Martha’s hobbies and interests included playing cards, dancing, sewing, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Martha is preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Mary Graf, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Survivors included her six children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at St. Germanus Catholic Church, Arapahoe, Nebraska.