Erma C. Orth, age 85, of Austin, died Friday, July 5, 2002 at the Austin Medical Center.

She was born June 30, 1917, in Kenmore, N.D., to Arthur and Ora (Geckler) May. When she was young her family moved to Iowa near Ames and later they moved to Austin. She graduated from Austin High School in 1935. She married Roy Orth on May 24, 1939, in Austin. Together they farmed near Lansing. Erma was very active at the Senior Citizens Center and the Austin Baptist Chapel where she was a member.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, June Sprandel.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 10, at 11 a.m. at the Austin Baptist Chapel with the Rev. Paul Brown officiating. Interment will be in the Lansing Cemetery in Lansing. Visitation will be held at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, Austin, on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., and at the church on Wednesday one hour before the service.

The pianist will be Jane Oliver. Casket bearers will be Roy Baker, Steven Baker, Don Grabau, Lane Davis, Terry Sprandel, and Arnie Jacobson.

She is survived by sons and daughter-in-law: Eugene and Joyce Orth of Albert Lea, and Robert Orth of Aurora, Colo.; daughters and sons-in-law: Mary and Robert Baker of Austin, and Connie and Morris Gibson of Houston, Texas; nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Doris Jacobson of Albert Lea; and nieces and nephews.