Martha Aukes

MARTHA AUKES was born the sixth of eight children on June 1, 1919, to Martin and Trientje (Garrels) Freerks in rural George, Iowa, located in Liberal Township, Lyon County. She was raised on the family farm and later moved into town with her family. She attended Liberal Township grade school through the eighth grade and graduated from George High School in 1937. Following her education she “waited on trade” at Jensen’s general store in George.

On Nov. 16, 1945, Martha was united in marriage to Roy Aukes at her family’s home in George. The couple made their home at the farm one-quarter mile east of Steen, MN. Their marriage was blessed with five children: David, Greg, Keith, Ruth and Barbara. In addition to working on the farm and raising her family, Martha later was employed as a cook at Tuff Memorial Home and Hills-Beaver Creek High School in Hills, Minn. She also worked for K-Products in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Wally’s Nursery near Hills. Roy preceded her in death on July 15, 1997. Martha continued living on their farm until she moved to Fargo, ND in May 2001 and made her residence at Waterford Assisted Living. In July 2008, she moved to Friendship Manor in Shakopee, MN, where on Thursday, January 3, 2013, she died peacefully at the age of 93 years, seven months and two days.

Martha attended the Hope Reformed Church in George during her youth. She later attended the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church in Steen, United Methodist Church in Luverne, and the Steen Reformed Church in Steen. She loved music. The highlight of her high school years was singing in the Girls Glee Club and attending Iowa State High School Music competitions in Iowa City. She spent many Sunday evenings at the piano playing and singing her favorite hymns. In later years she became known for singing the Iowa Corn Song: “We’re from Iowa… Iowa. Best state in the land, joy on every hand. We’re from Iowa... Iowa. That’s where the tall corn grows.”

She enjoyed tending and harvesting the big garden she planted at the farm. It was her goal every year to “get the garden in” by June 1 – her birthday. She also enjoyed cooking and baking. She was especially known for her home-baked buns, buttermilk brownies and her roast beef dinners that always included Jell-O and ice cream for dessert. Martha was an active member in the Opportunity Extension Club. She enjoyed the friendship of the neighbors who attended the club’s monthly meetings.

She is lovingly remembered by her three surviving children and spouses, David (Lynelle) Aukes of Eden Prairie, Minn., Ruth (Derald) Berg of Albert Lea, Minn., and Barbara (Mikkel) Pates of Fargo, N.D.; ten grandchildren: Joel (Sue) Aukes, Fargo, Emily (Sean) Janoscrat, State College, Pa., Paul Aukes, Edina, Minn., Nathan Berg, Eden Prairie, Lydia (Dak) Sorenson, Albert Lea, Abby (Jon) Murray, Albert Lea, Priscilla (Eric) Arjes, Nashville, Tenn., Thomas Berg, Albert Lea, Jessica (Joseph) Beckett, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England; and Nicholas Pates, Ames, Iowa; six great-grandchildren, Claire Janoscrat, Ayva Murray, Kylee Pierson, Sienna Murray, Charlie Murray, Jett Sorenson; and two sisters-in-law, Alice Aukes of Shakopee and Frances (John) Freerks of George. She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Keith (January 23,1952) and Greg (May 4, 2005); parents; and all of her siblings, Helen Freerks, Harm Freerks, John Freerks, Theodore Freerks, Elsie Korthals, Louis Freerks, and Kathryn Hummel.