WODEN - Martha A. Thieben, 96, of Woden died Thursday (December 10, 2009) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M., Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden with Rev. Jackie Ziemer officiating. Burial will be in Bingham Township Cemetery south of Woden.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 P.M., Sunday at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Woden and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Martha Anna Thieben, the daughter of John and Bertha (Baack) Buns, was born July 4, 1913 at Woden. She graduated from Woden High School in 1933. After graduation she lived at home and helped her father in the family grocery store. She later married Cyril Halvorsen. They made their home in Forest City before moving back to Woden. On March 28, 1957 she was married to Jacob Thieben at Wheaton, IL. They farmed east of Woden until retiring in 1968. After Jacob passed away in 1983, Martha moved into Woden. She enjoyed singing and reading.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, WELCA and the Woden American Legion Auxiliary.

Martha is survived by her son, Keith Halvorsen of Woden; grandson, Troy Halvorsen of Waterloo and his two children, Troy, Jr. and Chastity; a sister, Carolyn Bilyeu Cordes and her husband, Albert, of Forest City; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Bertha, in 1937; father, John, in 1963; husbands, Cyril and Jacob; son, Kim; sister, Louise Smith; and brothers, Arnold, John, Henry and Harold Buns. ... Read More