Martha Koenig, age 97 of Underwood, ND died Sunday, February 8, 2009 at the Prairieview Nursing Home in Underwood.

Funeral Service: 1:00 PM Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009;
Faith Evangelical Church – Underwood, ND;
Pastor Jeff Higbie, Officiating

Interment will be held at a later date in the Underwood Cemetery.

Visitation will held from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Wednesday at Goetz Funeral Home in Underwood and will continue Thursday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Martha was born January 8, 1912 in Ashley, ND to John & Margarite (Wessner) Grueneich. She grew up on a farm north of Washburn, ND and married Reuben Koenig on Nov. 3, 1932. Together they farmed southeast of Underwood until retiring in 1968. Martha & Reuben moved from the farm into Underwood in 1966. Reuben, her husband of 45 years, passed away in November 1977. Martha continued to live in Underwood until 2002 when she moved to The Terrace in Bismarck. On November 15, 2008, she became a resident of the Prairieview Nursing Home in Underwood. While living in the depression era, Martha learned how to provide for her family by growing large gardens. She sewed clothing, made many quilts, cooked German foods, and baked everything from scratch. She sewed baby blankets and assisted with White Cross (church missions) until she was 90 years old. Before she lost her eyesight, she took advantage of many senior citizen bus tours and enjoyed reading books. In her later years, Martha valued spending time with family and friends.

Eternally grateful for having shared in Martha's life are her son, Roland (Sharan) Koenig of Underwood; daughter, Karen Johannes of Underwood; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren from Roland, Sue Ellen (Randy) Podoll of Sturgis, SD and children Rachael, Jacob, & Todd; R. Will (Beverly) Koenig of Blaine, MN and children Jordan & Grace; Joel (Jacki) Koenig of Rapid City, SD and children Nick, Katelyn, & Megan; Aaron (Barby) Koenig of Fargo and children Alayna, Sophie, & Jack); her grandchildren and great-grandchildren from Karen, Cindy (Paul) Klingbeil of Minot and children Jocelyn Rodgers, Ben, & Elizabeth; Ron (Sheila) Johannes of Willmar, MN and children Mitchell, Mikayla, & Joshua; Chandra (Jon) Longnecker of Waconia, MN and children Caleb & Jacob; Sid (Lynae) Johannes of Vergas, MN and children Abe & Shauntel; two sisters, Lorraine Grenz & Vi (Ruben) Schlichenmeyer of Bismarck; one sister-in-law, Frances Grueneich of Bismarck; and one brother-in-law, Walter Aman of Oregon.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 4 sisters (Johanna Bader, Emma Johnson-Pfaff, Bertha Steinwand, & Ella Aman), 3 brothers (Edward, Bennie, & John Grueneich), one son-in-law (Robert "Bob" Johannes), and a great granddaughter (Anna Barbara Koenig).