Minnie May (Anderson) Martinsen, a resident of Oak Harbor since 1979, was called to be with the Lord on Jan. 12, 2009 at the age of 88. Minnie was a long-time member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church and was extremely blessed by the shut-in visitation ministries of Oak Harbor Lutheran and First Reformed churches.

Minnie made her home at Harbor Tower Village for the past 12 years. She loved her “neighbors” at Harbor Tower and, in her special way, ministered to them by being a good neighbor.

Minnie was preceded in death by son, Paul (1991); husband, Elmer (1993); parents Charles David and Nellie May (Willoughby) Anderson; and three sisters and three brothers. She is survived by son Larry (and Judy) Martinsen of Oak Harbor; daughter, Judy (and Darwin) Rohde of Marysville; and daughter-in-law Sheryl Sleeper of Hartley, Iowa. Minnie was blessed also by her 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Minnie and her husband, Elmer, were native born Nebraskans (Dixon County, Newcastle). They lived in Baltimore during World War II where Elmer worked for G.L. Martin Aircraft Mfg. Co. Their two sons, Paul and Larry, were born in Baltimore. Following the war, Minnie and Elmer returned to the Midwest to be farmers in various locations in western Iowa (Anthen) and northeast Nebraska (Wayne and Wakefield). Their daughter Judy was born in Wayne.

In 1957, Minnie and Elmer moved to Salix, Iowa, and later to Sioux City. Elmer was employed by Fairmont Ice Cream Co. where he became an expert maker of cottage cheese; later he worked for Kaplan Wholesale Groc. In 1979, they moved to Oak Harbor to be near their son, Larry.

Elmer and Minnie loved their retired life in Oak Harbor, made many friends, were faithful members of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church and were frequent visitors at Oak Harbor Senior Center. Minnie was widowed in January 1993. She continued to live at the family home on NE Neil St. until December 1996 and then moved to Harbor Tower Village.

Minnie’s death followed a relatively brief illness. Despite the faithful and loving care of her dear friend, Dr. Lycksell, Oak Harbor, and her doctors and other health care professionals at Island Hospital and San Juan Care, Anacortes, Minnie answered the Lord’s call. She will be missed greatly, and her family is truly blessed to have the assurance that she is now without pain and at peace with the Lord whom she loved and faithfully served.

Graveside services for Minnie will be held at Maple Leaf Cemetery Thursday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial service at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. The family suggests that memorial donations may be made to: Oak Harbor Lutheran Church (Blanket Workshop) or First Reformed Church, Oak Harbor (Sunshine Visitors or Ladies Bible Study). Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor, where you may go online at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com to sign the guest register for Minnie.