Martha L. E. Smolich

Funeral service for Martha Lillian Elizabeth Smolich, 92, of Aurora, will be 11am Thursday, April 4, 2013 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Palo with Pastor Brendan Johnston officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Aurora. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Martha died Saturday, March 30, 2013 at Northern Pines Medical Center in Aurora. She was born March 13, 1921 in Palo, MN to Paul and Mary (Liimatta) Ruotsi. Martha attended school in Palo and worked on the family farm. In 1940 she married Albin Smolich in Virginia, MN. They moved to Aurora where Martha raised her daughter, Kathleen and was a homemaker. Martha was a self taught musician who played the organ, piano and accordion. She was a long time organist for St. Mark's Church and played for many Finnish services and at White Community Hospital. She was a volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels and was a member of the Aurora Senior Citizens, the Rebeka's, Eastern Star and the Aurora American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include her daughter, Kathleen Smolich of Aurora; nephew, Lee Ruotsi of New York; great nieces, Lisa Bacon of International Falls and Mary Maki-Sapp of Little Fork. Martha is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albin; four brothers and one sister.