Martha M. Ringleb

On June 27th we lost a lovely, one-of-a-kind woman. Martha Ringleb died peacefully at her home in Helena at the age of 95. Born Martha Mary Vey on August 17, 1916 in Unkelbach, Germany, she arrived in North America at the age of 12. After spending a year in Canada, she and her family settled in Brooklyn, NY. In New York, Martha became a legal secretary at a book company, a profession she loved and she often spoke fondly of her time as an independent, career woman in an era before that was common. She also began her life-long love affair with the Dodgers, who she was able to follow to the west coast.

Martha eventually made her way to Los Angeles where she met Paul Ringleb, also a native of Germany, the love of her life and husband of 65 years. Martha and Paul married in February, 1942, just a few weeks after she became a naturalized United States citizen. She and Paul had three children and made their home in Burbank and, later, Sylmar, CA. While Paul worked for Lockeed Aircraft, Martha raised their children and often volunteered, babysitting local children and as a pink lady at the local hospital. In 1972, the couple loaded up their VW van and moved from sunny California to snowy Bozeman, MT to be closer to their four young grandchildren. While in Bozeman, Martha spent her time being a doting grandma, again being a pink lady, and producing hundreds of her famous rouladen dinners and signature coffee cakes.

In 2000, Paul and Martha moved to make their final home in Helena. Paul and Martha traveled many times to Germany and both continued to speak fluent German and regale listeners with tales of childhood in post- and pre-war Germany. Paul died in 2007 and Martha kept busy by spending time with family, crocheting dozens of fabulous afghans, going out to lunch with her friend Rosie, seeing her friends in the neighborhood and at church, and showering love on her new companion, Jennie, a particularly special black cat. In 2011, she was thrilled to have family and friends from all over the country gather to celebrate her 95th birthday.

In addition to countless friends, Martha leaves a large family: her son, Peter (Sheri) Ringleb of Santa Paula, CA and her daughters Louise Hull of Helena, MT and Ann-Marie (Buzz) Biden of Upland, CA. She was grandma to Susie Hull, Kathy (Paul) Oulman, Debbie (Art) Albin, Jim (Teresa) Shanklin, Chris (Chrystal) Gualtieri , Scott (Misha) Biden, Kelly (Brandon) Aho and Logan Hull. She was great-grandma to Michael Jones, Greta Oulman, Molly Shanklin, and Tristan and Gabriella Aho. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul; her brother, Ady and her granddaughter, Patty.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with viewing starting at 10:00 a.m. at the church. A reception will follow the Mass in the Fellowship Hall of the church. Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery after the reception. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Martha’s church, Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 1502 Shirley Drive, Helena, MT 59602 or Lewis & Clark Humane Society, 2112 E. Custer Avenue, Helena, MT 59604. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to share a condolence to the family.

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