Martha Agnes Morehouse, 91, died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at Cedars of Austin Assisted Living Center.

She was born Jan. 5, 1918 in Knife Lake, Township, Minn. to Louis and Agnes Ripka. She grew up on a family farm in Mora, Minn. and attended school there.

On Sept. 24, 1940 she married Melchor (Mac) Morehouse in Mora, Minn. and from there moved to St. Paul. They moved back to Mora until 1959, when they moved their family to Austin. Martha worked as a waitress for Harry’s Cafe until her retirement in 1980. Martha was a member of Queen of Angels Catholic Church where she was active in the Rosary Society and the Women’s Circle for 50 years.

She enjoyed working in her garden, quilting, playing cards, reading and spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Janet (James) Seiver, Rochester, Minn., Michael Morehouse, Austin, Nancy (Terry) Lafin, Columbia, Md., Thomas (Dawn) Morehouse, Austin, Mark (Jan) Morehouse, Alytt, Va., Scott (Linda) Morehouse, St. Cloud, Minn., JoAnne (Gene) Jiracek, Oakdale, Minn., Mary (Joe) Lukens, Harrisburg, Pa., Susan (Doug) DeMoss, Austin, Dianne (Keith) Unruh, Owatonna, Minn., Stephen Morehouse, Hayfield, Minn.

Martha has 30 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Melchor; sons, Wayne and James; parents, Louis and Agnes Ripka; sisters, Agnes Ripka and Margaret Holmes; brothers, Anton, Rudolph, Louis (in infancy) Robert, Louis and Ernest.

Casketbearers will be her grandchildren, Adam Lafin, Jessica Knox, Chris Jiracek, Kirsten Moss, Kristine Sawyer and Melissa Morehouse. Honorary casketbearers will be the rest of her grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 at 10 a.m. at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating. There will be a 4 p.m. CCW rosary and a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Tuesday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. The family will also greet friends at a luncheon following the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be Friday, November 27, 2009 at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Mora, Minn.