Martha Barta

Funeral Mass for Martha Barta, 86, of Dickinson will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Patrick Schumacher celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 13, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Stevenson Funeral Home.


Martha passed away Friday, September 9, 2011 at St. Benedict’s Health Center in Dickinson.


Martha Semerad was born on November 27, 1924 the second child of Theodore and Anna (Svoboda) Semerad on the family farm near New Hradec, ND. She attended school in New Hradec graduating from the 8th grade in 1938. Martha attended one year at Model High in Dickinson. She completed her education with a GED at the age of 58, an accomplishment that she was very proud of. On July 10, 1945, Martha was married to Ludwig Barta at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New Hradec. Together they farmed and raised their three daughters north of Dickinson for the next 34 years. Martha was always busy on the farm where she raised chickens and geese, sold fresh eggs and cream, as well as garden produce. She joked that she irrigated the garden ’til the creek went dry. She loved to sew, making several matching outfits for her girls and she also crocheted. Martha was an excellent cook and baker; donuts being her specialty. She also enjoyed playing cards, bingo, and spending time with her family. Martha was a member of St. Ann’s Altar Society, the Catholic Workman, RSVP, and the Knights of Columbus. Martha took great pride in being a rosary leader and Eucharistic minister at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, where she was a member for many years. Martha moved into the Villard Terrace for four years, then made her home at St. Benedict’s for the next six and a half years.


Survivors include three daughters, Bernice (Alvin) Wanner of Dickinson, ND, Marlene Streeper of Bismarck, ND, and Kathy Morford of Dickinson, ND; four grandchildren, Mike Streeper, Mark Streeper, Kristina (Kevin Berg) Morford, and Kimberly (Mark Goldman) Wanner; two great-grandchildren, Devon Streeper and Ellayna Berg; and two brothers George and Jerry Semerad of Dickinson, ND.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ludwig; two sisters and their husbands, Evelyn (John) Krebs and Bertha (Tony) Dvorak; an infant brother, Roger and an infant sister, Betty.


Click to View Program (PDF)


Burial Date: September 14, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Wednesday, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church