Martha Ann Kragenbring

Martha Ann "Marty" Kragenbring, age 81, of Atwater, passed away Monday, June 23, at Vista Prairie at Copperleaf following an extended illness.

Visitation will begin at 12 noon followed by her funeral service at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 30, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Interment will be at Oakside Cemetery near Atwater. www.petersonbrothers.com

Marty was born February 9, 1944, in Ames, Iowa to Merl Jr and Mary Jane Ross. She spent her childhood between Ames and Sioux City, Iowa, and eventually moved to the Twin Cities where she worked with physically disabled adults while being a single mom.

She then moved to the Willmar area where she was a secretary at Walt's and then a floor saleswoman at Minnesota Electric. It is here where her true love, Dale Kragenbring, found her. In 1987, Dale and Marty married and over the next 27 years enjoyed gardening, home improvement projects, trips to Duluth and Arizona, and quality time with family and friends.

Marty's life was made complete with the birth of her two grandchildren. There was nothing loved more than spending time with, and spoiling, her grandchildren, Michael and Jennifer.

She is survived by her daughter Tracy (Shawn) Thompson of Duluth, Minnesota, two brothers Tom (Joan) Ross of Des Moines, Iowa, and Jim (Mandy) Ross of Johnston, Iowa, many nephews and grandnephews, two nieces and a grandniece, close friends Bryan and Christy Martin, and her beloved dog, Annie.

Marty was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dale, her mother and father, and one brother, Ron Ross.