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Chase County Kansas Obituaries
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Spencer, Martha Ellen Ransford
MARTHA E. SPENCER
Date of Death: Sep 09 2000. Pierre, SD
Lora Marguerite Martha Ellen (Ransford) Spencer was born in Cottonwood Falls, KS, May 13, 1921 to Joseph Marion and Elsie May (Baldwin) Ransford. Martha was way down on the list of fourteen children. Of those fourteen, nine grew to maturity.
In the depression year of 1932 when it became impossible to provide for his family, Joe Ransford left them to look for work. A neighbor reported the family to the state agencies stating, their mother was not able to care for them, Martha, age 11, her younger sister, Maxine, age 9, and her older sister, Maybelle, age 13 were taken from their mother and placed in the state run orphanage in Denver, Colorado.
The boys who remained at home, the youngest being 15, were all turned out to make their own way. Martha loved her family and missed them terribly. She remained in the orphanage until ncarly 18 when she ran away. Her punishment for this escapade was placement in the Catholic convent until she was 21.
Martha married Boyd "Jack" Spencer at Wallace, North Carolina, just prior to him leaving for the European Theater during World War II. She lived with her sister, Maybelle, at St. Joseph, Missouri in his absence, working at the Gatcs Rubber Plant.
The separation from her family at such a young age contributed to Martha's fierce determination to survive and to keep her family together. Martha had a tremendous, compassionate heart, and was happiest when she could give, and she gave alot
She loved crochet, beadwork, quilting, and embroidery. She crocheted baby blankets and booties for every child, and grandchild, and many for other people's babies. Many of her family have full sized comforters that she crocheted. At Christmas the grandchildren knew when they got to Grandma's house they would each receive a paper hag stuffed with goodies that was all their own.
Martha was always willing to share whatever she had with friend, family, or stranger. Anyone who didn't have family for the holidays was welcome at Martha's house; Anyone who was hungry was welcome at her table. Hundreds of dinners were shared with those she felt were less fortunate than she was. Martha always said if she gives to someone here, maybe someone will give to one of hers, if they were out in the world and needed something.
Grateful for the privilege of sharing her life are the following: her sister, Mrs. MaybcIle Matzke of Pierce City, Mo.; her 12 children: Virginia Heuer, Pierre, SD.; Dorothy and Jerome Naber, Pierre, SD.; Harold Spencer, Altoona, IA.; Boyd Duane and Nancy Spencer, Mt Vernon, SD.; Daniel and Vicie Spencer, Norfolk. NE.; Nora Creswell, Salem, OR.; Adolph Albert and Susan Spencer, Altoona, IA.; James and Laura Spencer, Ozark, Mo.; Elsie and Joe Peterson, Pierre, SD.; Marilyn and Valerian Three Irons, of White, SD.; Martin and Roberta Spencer, Sioux Falls, SD.; Sherilyn Jensen, Sioux Falls, SD.; 48 grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren 3 great, great, grandchildren, numerous "adopted" children, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her parents, 2 brothers and sisters, several grandchildren, and several nieces and nephew.
Obituary submitted by Nora Creswell, Written by Dorothy Naber, both daughters.
by Lorna Marvin
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