Martha (De Boer) Slings, 103, of Pella, passed away Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Hospice of Pella Comfort House.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 27, at 10 a.m. at Cornerstone Church (formerly Second Christian Reformed Church), Pella. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery, Leighton. Memorial contributions are preferred for Cornerstone Church.
Martha De Boer, the daughter of Garrett and Dora (De Vries) De Boer, was born Mar. 7, 1918, in O’Brien County. In a few years, the De Boer family moved to Doon where her father was the owner of Doon Mercantile. Martha graduated from Doon Christian School in 1930. She then attended Western Academy in Hull. In 1931, the family moved to Pella where she graduated from Pella High School. She then attended Central College for two years. She began teaching in the rural schools of Mahaska County. She graduated from Central College, Pella, in May 1970.
Martha married Harold Slings Dec. 20, 1942, at Pella Second Christian Reformed Church during the Sunday morning service. At that time, Harold was a sergeant in the United States Army serving in World War II. When he returned home from the service, they began farming just west of Pella. They moved to a farm west of Leighton where they lived for many years. Harold and Martha were blessed with three children: Dorothy, Marvin, and Richard. Martha taught school for many years at Peoria, Oskaloosa, and Pella Christian Grade Schools.
When they retired from farming, Martha enjoyed their new home in Pella where she loved displaying the beautiful flowers Harold grew for her. She was a long-standing member of the Pella Second Christian Reformed Church where she served God by teaching many classes and enjoyed working with Christian Fellowship Hour.
Martha loved reading, crocheting, knitting, and baking, especially bread and cookies. In their later years, Harold and Martha moved to Fairhaven East. There they enjoyed activities with friends and neighbors, wonderful meals, and visits with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Harold and Martha moved to The Cottages in January 2014. Harold passed away in March 2014, and Martha continued to reside at The Cottages. She loved her friends at The Cottages and was so very appreciative of the wonderful care she received there.
Martha’s surviving family includes her son Marvin (Lynda) Slings of Sully and many grandchildren and great-grand-children.
Preceding Martha in Glory were her parents, husband Harold, parents-in-law Isaac and Adrianna Slings, son Richard Lee Slings, daughter Dorothy Joan De Jong and her husband Howard De Jong, grandson Michael Howard De Jong, and brothers and sisters-in-law Peter and Ann De Boer, Rich and Rita De Boer, and Ted De Boer.
