Mary Rita Martinson, 56, of Forest City, Iowa, died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010, at Albert Lea Medical Center in Albert Lea.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. today at St. James Catholic Church in Forest City, Iowa, with the Rev. Donald A. Hertges officiating. Visitation was 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday evening at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, IA 50450 with prayer/scripture service from 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Sunday. Visitation will also be at the church one hour prior to the service.

Burial will take place at Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City, Iowa.

Mary was born Aug. 25, 1954, to Frank and Margaret (Roche) Casterton and grew up in Hayward before moving into Albert Lea where she graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1972. She attended and graduated from Minnesota School of Business and then worked at Pillsbury in Minneapolis following her graduation.

Mary was united in marriage to Larry Martinson on Sept. 7, 1974, at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church in Albert Lea. They made their home in Forest City, Iowa, where Mary worked at The Architectural Design Group Inc. for 12 years. She then worked as an executive secretary at Winnebago Industries for 24 years until she became ill.

Mary enjoyed spending time with her family (especially her grandchildren), going to movies, gambling, traveling and gardening. Mary was a very active member of St. James Catholic Church where she took communion to the homebound, served on Parish Council and Guild, taught CCD classes and was in charge of organizing blood drives and the parish prayer chain as well as an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society. She will be most remembered by anyone who ever knew her as a living example of Matthew 22:37-39 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Because of Mary’s deep love for her Lord, her life reflected that love to others as everyone came first before she thought of herself. Mary’s sweet and loving spirit will be truly missed by all who knew her.

Mary is survived by her husband of 36 years, Larry Martinson, of Forest City, Iowa; her children: Randy (Sarah) Martinson of Garner, Iowa, and Amy (Dusty) Abels of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchildren: Matthew, Nicholas and Emily Martinson of Garner, Iowa; mother and step-father: Margaret (Roche) and Leo Hillesheim of New Ulm; mother-in-law, Geneva Martinson of Lake Mills, Iowa; sister-in-law and brother-in-law: Linda and Gary Sigler of Owatonna; niece and nephews: Nikki (Chris) Steinkraus, Mike Sigler, and Tim (Laura) Sigler; foreign exchange students: Sven Raugstad (Norway) and Ariadne Vital (Brazil); and her beloved dog, Buddy.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Frank Casterton; father-in-law, Royden Martinson; and several dearly loved aunts and uncles.

You can contact the family with online condolences at: www.mittelstadtfuneralhome.com.