In Memory of Lulu I. Martinsen

Lulu Irene (Rollefson) Martinsen, age 92, of Whiting, Iowa formerly of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Monday, November 20, 2017, at the Pleasant View Care Center of Whiting, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held on 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Rev. Chad Lierman will officiate; with a committal service to follow in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, November 27, 2017, at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home, of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Lulu Irene Martinsen, the daughter of Isaac and Velma (Barrett) Hanks, was born on July 6, 1925, on a farm northwest of Holstein, IA. Lulu grew up in Galva, IA, and graduated with the class of 1941 from Galva High School.

After high school, Lulu lived with her sister Mildred and helped with house hold chores. On February 12, 1943, Lulu was united into marriage to Edward Lampe in Nebraska. The couple were blessed with three children Luella, Beth, and Edward. Due to health issues Edward passed away in January of 1956. 

On November 27, 1959, Lulu married Larry Rollefson in the Lutheran Church in Grant Township, Ida Grove, IA. Lulu welcomed Larry’s son Robert and the couple were blessed with a son Gene. Due to health issues Larry passed away in June of 1986. 

On November 5, 1999, Lulu married Glenn Martinsen in Onawa, IA.  The couple shared nine years together before Glenn passed in April of 2008.

You might remember Lulu as a clerk at John’s Super Value in Ida Grove or as your friendly Ida Grove Public School bus driver for 25 years. Lulu also worked as a cemetery sexton for the Ida Grove Cemetery. 

Lulu was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church of Ida Grove, IA and in her youth, was active in UMW. She enjoyed bird watching, organizing community senior citizen dances, rooting on her Kansas City Chief’s and the Minnesota Twins. She showed enthusiasm for her country through her patriotism; but most of all Lulu relished in her moments spent with her family.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Luella (Lampe) Dammann of Harpswell, ME, Edward (Diane) Lampe of Ida Grove, IA, and Gene (Diane) Rollefson of Hinton, IA; step-son Robert (Janice) Rollefson of Cherokee, IA; 15 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great grandchildren; brothers Bill Hanks of Scranton, IA and Dennis Hanks of Lake City, IA; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Lulu is preceded in death by her parents Isaac and Velma Hanks; husbands Edward Lampe, Larry Rollefson, and Glenn Martinsen; daughter Beth (Lampe) Hightree; sisters Dorothy Kennedy, Mildred Jepsen, Lucille Strom; two grandchildren Dennis Nelson and Nicholas Lampe.