Martha T. Handeland's Obituary
Martha Tweiten Handeland
Martha Tweiten Handeland passed away at the Tacoma Lutheran Home on September 11, 2008 at age 98. Martha was born on July 26, 1910 in University Place, Washington, at the home of her Aunt Bertha. She was the second of eight children born to Ommund and Pauline Tweiten. She is survived by two brothers, Oscar Tweiten and Jorgen Tweiten. She was preceded in death by her husband, Torvald, brothers, Bernard Tweiten and Carl Tweiten, sisters, Alma Tweiten, Anna Hopen, and Bertha Berg.
When Martha was 10 years old the family moved to Norway. At 17 she returned to America with her older brother Carl. Upon return to America she lived with her Auntie Inger in University Place and worked as a housekeeper to earn money to bring back the rest of the family. All had returned to the Tacoma area by 1931.
Martha married Torvald Handeland, whom she had met in Norway, on October 1, 1938 at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Tacoma. They raised three children, Einer, Pauline, and Arne. Torvald and Martha built and operated Handeland's Motel in Fife until 1974 when they retired.
Martha joined the Embla Lodge of the Daughters of Norway in 1930 and was a 78 year member. She was very good at needle work and produced many hand made items for lodge fund raisers over the years. Her many pieces of knitting, crocheting and needle work are lasting treasures enjoyed by her family. She loved to cook Scandinavian food, bake Scandinavian cookies and decorate cakes. Martha was a long time member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tacoma.
Martha's children and descendants include: Einer Handeland (Marilyn), their two children, Sonja (Francois) and his daughter, Aurelie, and Carl (Leslie), their two children, Anna and Mara; Pauline Handeland Campbell (John), their two children, Tonja and Clayton; and Arne Handeland and his two children, Karina and Brent.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Foundation, 1301 N. Highlands Parkway, Tacoma, WA 98046 or to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 3315 S. 19th St, Tacoma, WA 98405.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held at the Tacoma Lutheran Home at 2:00 pm Tuesday Sept 16.
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