Martha Quaempts Franklin
April 2, 1941 — April 10, 2020
Martha Ann Quaempts Franklin peacefully went home to be with the Lord and her family on April 10, 2020.
Because of the COVID-19 gathering limits, services were held for family and live-streamed on Folsom-Bishop Facebook on April 16.
It was her wish to be cremated and placed beside her sister at St. Andrews Cemetery.
The family will live steam her burial also through Facebook at a future date to be determined. When the COVID limits are lifted the family will hold a celebration of life for family and friends to gather, share hugs and eat a meal together.
Martha was born to William and Annie Quaempts at the family homestead on Meacham Creek. This is where she would grow and gather with her brothers, sisters and many relatives. She loved to tell stories of how her father grew yummy strawberries, the largest garden and raised horses, which also became her passion. She had many horses but her favorite was Mike, who she raised from a colt, and they became best buddies for life.
Martha was the youngest of nine and she traveled all over the Northwest with her mother (Annie) visiting family, friends and businesses from whom Annie loved to purchase her goods. Martha attended school at St. Andrew’s and would finish at St. Joseph High School.
Martha married David A. Franklin on Sept. 23, 1961. They lived in Gibbon, where Martha eventually became the first postmaster at the Gibbon store. She then worked in forestry at the Umatilla Tribes Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Martha had two children, Paula (1962) and David (1963). As they grew and went to school in Athena she began working as the Tribal Johnson O’Malley Assistant at Athena Elementary. She loved working with all the tribal kids, helping them to succeed in their academics, taking them on ski trips to Spout Springs and making sure they all got to do different adventures that they had dreamed of accomplishing, even if that meant money out of her own pocket and time. Martha and her sisters Loretta and Rosie were the first educators to begin traveling to many of the schools around the area to educate children on her Native traditions and history. It was her passion to make sure that the communities and people who lived there understood that her Native people were thriving and wanted to be part of the growth within these communities.
Martha was a very spiritual woman who came to know and grow with the Lord. She was one of many in building the Pendleton Chapter of Aglow for Women and served on the Aglow Board. She shared her passion for the Lord and her love for her tribal traditions across the country through Aglow, and again with her sister Rosie in many venues.
In her sharing she connected and helped many other people in finding the Lord, and they would become her friends and family for life. She wanted everyone to know the Lord could bring peace, hope and love into their hearts and households. She could be called by anyone at any time to pray or seek help and never once thought twice about being there for them.
Martha’s family traditions, love for the Lord and flair for fun will continue through Paula Wallis (Jim) and David Franklin (Sandy), her grandchildren Cassandra (Jeff), Jerimiah (Mindy), Josh (Ashley), Jessica (Ryan), Rachael and Jacob, and great-grandchildren Hayden, Abi, Paityn, Paxton, Harper and Bentley. She was also as a surrogate mother and grandmother to many who walked through her door.
Online condolences may be shared at www.pioneerchapel.com.
