AUGUST 31, 1917 – SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Longtime Loveland resident Martha Staby passed away on September 27, 2023 at age 106.
Born in Audubon, Iowa, on August 31, 1917, she was the second of four daughters of Karl and Lina Rasmussen, who were Danish immigrants.
She graduated from Audubon High School in 1935 and attended for two years at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, where she met her future husband, Andrew P. Staby. She received her bachelor of arts degree from Fresno State College in Fresno, California, and later earned her master’s from UNC in Greeley.
On June 12, 1939, she married to Andrew Staby of Westbrook, Maine. To this union were born four children: Judy Hoch (Randy) of Salida, Paul Staby (Jigger) of Durango, John Staby (Kathie) of Plymouth, Minnesota, and Mary Staby (Miles F. Porter IV) of Salida. They all survive as well as granddaughters Kirsten Love, Annie Mitty and Betsy Sluis (Michael) and four great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Andrew, was a Lutheran pastor and they served churches in Oregon, Wisconsin; Plainview, Fremont and Chadron, Nebraska; and Brush, Colorado. Along with being a busy mother and pastor’s wife, she taught high school in Brush and Denver, and Chadron State College and Pine Ridge Job Corps in Nebraska.
The Stabys retired in 1978 and moved to Loveland, where they continuously resided while traveling extensively. In their lifetimes, they visited all 50 states and numerous countries. She was an active member of King of Glory Lutheran Church and did community service with House of Neighborly Service and the Loveland Museum.
Private family graveside services will be at Resthaven Funeral Home & Memory Gardens in Loveland.
Please join Martha's family for a memorial service and reception to follow on Friday, October 6th, 1:30 p.m., at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2919 Wilson Ave., in Loveland.
Memories and condolences are welcome at www.resthavencolorado.com.
