Delores “Tuts” Martens, 93Free Access


A Celebration of Life Service for Delores “Tuts” Martens, age 93, of Lakefield, will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 18th at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield, with Reverend Phillip Beukema officiating. Burial will follow at the Lakefield Cemetery in Lakefield.

A time of visitation and gathering will be held on Monday from 10:00-11:00 AM at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield.

Delores “Tuts” Martens passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield.

Arrangements are under the care of the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center.

The service will be live-streamed on the Immanuel Lutheran Church-Lakefield Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

Memorials are preferred to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield.

Condolences and memories of Delores may be sent online to: www.lacannefuneralhome.com.

Delores Frances “Tuts” (Rehnelt) Martens was born on March 18, 1929, to Henry and Meta (Lietzow) Rehnelt on the family farm in Delafield Township, Jackson County, MN. She was baptized at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake, MN, and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Delafield Township. Tuts received her education at Delafield District 29.

On January 28, 1956, Delores was united in marriage to Harold William Martens at St. Peter Lutheran Church. The union was blessed with one son, Gary. The couple enjoyed 63 years of marriage and lived on Funk Avenue (Lakefield) in the home they built together. Harold passed away in October 2018. Delores became a resident at Valley View Assisted Living in May 2019 and moved to Colonial Manor Nursing Home in March 2022. Delores passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

Delores was a homemaker. She loved pets, especially cats, she enjoyed planting flowers and she liked to eat fresh garden vegetables but depended on Harold and Gary to plant and tend the garden. She played bingo, took trips to the casino, and enjoyed shopping and watching MN Vikings football and NASCAR. Tuts loved spending time with her 3 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. The family was the center of Delores and Harold’s life, and they made sure to attend all the family events.

Tuts and her sister Hazel loved music, with Hazel playing the mandolin and Delores the guitar, the young women sang with the Eddie Skeet’s Orchestra during the intermission between movies in Iowa and MN theaters. The sisters also sang on KWOA Worthington radio.

Delores was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakefield. She volunteered with clerical activities at the church and Sparks Park.

Tuts was survived by her son, Gary (Judy) Martens of Lakefield, MN; three grandchildren, Christopher (Lara) Waters of Highlands Ranch, CO, James (Emily) Waters of Farmington, MN, and Amanda Martens of Lakefield, MN; five great-grandchildren and #6 coming in September 2022, Evan and Alex Waters, Jackson Talks, Arie and Evelyn Waters; sisters-in-law, Genevieve Rehnelt of Jackson, MN, and Delores Berkness of Baldwin City, KS; as well as nieces, nephews, and friends.

Delores was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Martens; her parents, Henry and Meta Rehnelt; brothers, Henry, Harry, Raymond, and Norman Rehnelt; and sisters, Agnus Purrington and Hazel Reed Arnold.

Blessed be the memory of Delores “Tuts” Martens.

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