Margaret Lennia Martin

Margaret L. Martin, 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 27, 2026, just five weeks shy of her 95th birthday.

Margaret was born on October 3, 1931, to Helmer and Ingeborg Jansson. She attended Pierce schools and graduated from Pierce High School in 1949. Following graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper for the Plymouth car dealership in Greeley.

On April 16, 1950, Margaret married Wilbert “Willie” Martin. Together, they built a wonderful life and raised their family. They started farming in the Eaton area, working at the Eaton Ranch before moving to the Ault-Pierce area, where they continued farming until retirement. In 1970, Margaret began working for the Highland RE-9 School District in the Ault school cafeteria. She remained there for 20 years, retiring in 1990 as the cafeteria manager.

Margaret was an accomplished cook and baker and was especially known for her delicious krautburgers, homemade egg noodles, and angel food cakes. Her love of cooking eventually led her to start her own catering business, where she served numerous clubs and church organizations, including the Ault and Eaton Lions Clubs, farm sales, and the 4-H and Weld County fairs.

In retirement, Margaret and Willie moved east of Eaton in 1995 and later into the town of Eaton in 2004. They especially enjoyed attending their grandchildren's school and sporting events and their granddaughters' dance recitals. Willie passed away in 2017, and Margaret continued to make her home in Eaton until moving to a senior living apartment in Greeley in 2022.

Margaret was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church of Ault and was the church's oldest member at the time of her passing. She was very proud of her Swedish heritage and learned how to cook and bake several Swedish dishes. She was also a member of the Pierce Ladies Birthday Club, Extension Club, and the church ladies’ auxiliary. She enjoyed participating in the Weld County Fair, where her many exhibits earned numerous blue ribbons—and, as she would appreciate, several pounds of sugar over the years.

In her later years, Margaret enjoyed playing pinochle and tending to the beautiful flowering plants in the greenhouse at the Lodge where she lived.

Margaret was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Willie; her parents; her brother, Arnold; an infant granddaughter; and her grandson, Mitch.

She is survived by her brother, Robert “Sonny” (Eulene) Jansson; her three children, Judy (Keith) Wiedeman, Dan Martin, and Michael (Jane) Martin; five grandchildren, TJ (Robin) Wiedeman, Matthew(Wendy) Martin, Dr. Natalie (Kawa) Shwaish, Garret(Carly) Martin, and Justus (Jacquelyn) Martin; and five great-grandchildren, Miranda Wiedeman, KJ, Evie and Benny Shwaish, and Elliot Martin.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 11, at 10:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church of Ault. A reception will follow at the church, with interment at 2:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The 1st Lutheran Church of Ault.