Martha A. Seppanen, age 86, of Bryant, SD, passed away on Monday, February 13, 2017, at the hospital in Watertown, SD. She was the widow of Elwood Seppanen. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2017, at the Lake Norden Apostolic Lutheran Church, rural Lake Norden, SD. Rev. Reino Maunu will officiate. Music will be provided by Wanda Laue as organist with congregational singing. The family is requested to meet at the church on Friday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service.
Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday.
Burial will be at the Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery, rural Lake Norden. Honorary pallbearers will be Martha's granddaughters. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Martha was born on July 5, 1930, at Ishpeming, MI, to Edward and Amalia (Hill) Sikkila. Following high school graduation, Martha married Clifford Maki on December 31, 1948, in Michigan. To this union, two children were adopted, John and Jana. Cliff preceded Martha in death.
On December 8, 1970, Martha married Elwood Seppanen in New Ipswich, NH. The couple moved to their present farm near Bryant, SD. They raised their family and farmed together until Elwood semi-retired. Martha worked for the 60's Plus dining program for many years. Elwood passed away in 2011 and Martha continued to make her home on their farm.
She was a member of Apostolic Lutheran Church. Martha was a devout Christian and nurturing her love for Christ was an important part of her life. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting afghans. Martha loved spending time with family, especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She touched the lives of many people and will be missed by all who knew her.
Martha is survived by her son, John E. and Sallie Seppanen, of Bryant, SD, and their children: Byran (Leah), Russell (Rebecca), Kyle (fiancé, Marcy Coponen), Caleb (fiancé, Angela Somero), Bethany (Jayme) Pyhala, Katie and Amalia; her daughter, Jana and John Seppanen, of Lake Norden, SD, and their children: Darin, Ryan (Sheena), Brent (Karen), Ethan, Kurt (Dezrae), Cody (fiancé, Audrey Hill), Kari (Ted) Olson, Tara (Marty) Seppala, Lori (Riley) Seppala and Amanda (Brady) Anderson; 28 great-grandchildren; one brother, Wilfred (Phyllis) Sikkila, of New Ipswich, NH; three sisters: Aili Sikkila of Peterborough, NH, Theresa Aunio of Thomasville, NC, and Ruth (Leonard) Gedenberg of Greer, SC; and one sister-in-law, Ella Sikkila, of Covington, MI.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Clifford; her second husband, Elwood; one great-granddaughter; her parents and three brothers: Edwin, Arvid and Bernhardt.
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