April 20, 1927 — March 29, 2026
Martha E. Andersen, 98, of Mason City, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the IOOF Home surrounded by family. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., at Epiphany Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 5th St. SE. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 North Pennsylvania, from 4-6 p.m., with a Scriptural Wake Service and a Rosary beginning at 5:30. Martha will be laid to rest at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Geddes, SD, on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family of Martha Andersen.
Martha Elizabeth Jaeger was born on April 20, 1927, to parents Frances “Frank” and Francis (Meis) Jaeger. Martha attended St. Ann’s Catholic Schools until 8th grade and later graduated from Geddes Public High School in 1944. Martha met a handsome Navy Man, A. Dean Andersen, at a movie theater she was attending with friends. The couple were united in marriage February 18, 1947, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. The couple were blessed were six children.
Martha and Dean farmed and were proprietors of a Bar and Grill, and she later became an acting postmaster. The couple moved to Iowa in 1968, and owned grocery stores in Webster City, Riverside Market, and in Aplington, Dean’s Grocery. The couple sold their store to their son, Wayne in 1983, and continued helping him as needed.
In her free time, Martha enjoyed bowling, playing cards. She was an active member of St. Ann’s in Geddes, St. Thomas Aquinas in Webster City and St. Patrick’s in Parkersburg, serving as several roles in the church, including: lay leader, sacristan, eucharistic minister, Lecter, catechism teacher, and taking Holy Communion to the shut-ins. She helped organize Red Cross Relief during the Parkersburg Tornado.
Martha ran an exercise group called “Get off Your Rocker” for many years with friends. It was always known that after their workout class, the ladies would come down to the grocery store and have patty melts after their workouts. Martha also enjoyed crocheting, spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She was a very loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She will be deeply missed by those who knew her and loved her.
Martha is survived by her children, Susan Andersen, Marla (Jim) Twait, Pam Sallin, Wayne Andersen; six grandchildren, Michelle (Paul Carter) Sallin, Brooke (Kevin #1) Tait, Richard Sallin, Gabrielle “Gabby” Fistler, William “Will” (Emily Blue) Sallin, and Yvette Andersen; four great grandchildren, Angeline “Gigi” Sallin, Eleanor “Nora” Fistler, William Sallin IV, and Daniel Sallin; sister, Margaret “Peggy” Summerville; and sister-in-law, Darlene Jaeger; and special nephew, Matt Lee Andersen, and many nieces and nephews.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband, A. Dean Andersen in 1997; daughters, Rita and Anita in infancy; parents, siblings, Louise (John) Kozak, Art (Edna) Jaeger, Ed Jaeger, Helen (Romus) Mushitz, Joe Jaeger, Charles Jaeger, Harold (Bernice) Jaeger; brother-in-law, Dave Summerville; son-in-law, Raymond Poulin.