Martha Loomer

Martha (Kingma) Loomer, 95, passed away Oct. 12, 2018, at the home of her daughter in Issaquah, Wash. She was born March 4, 1923, in Rapelje, Mont. to Ype and Anna (Vanderby) Kingma, who emigrated from the Netherlands and were lured to Montana by promises of opportunity.

Life was difficult there, especially when Anna was widowed with six young children. In 1931 Anna married Fred Stremler of Lynden, Wash. Martha graduated from Lynden High School in 1940. She worked for J.C. Penney in Lynden, where one of her duties was designing the store window displays. Throughout her life she had a flair for fashion and was an excellent seamstress.

Martha married Mahlon Dale Loomer of Bellingham, Wash., on Dec. 19, 1947. They were blessed with three children. Dale served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-71 and Martha embraced the responsibilities of a military officer's wife. She created a loving and welcoming home, was a Cub Scout Den Mother for her sons and assisted with her daughter's Girl Scout and Campfire programs. Neighborhood children knew there was an endless supply of popsicles at the Loomer house. They retired in 1971 to Medical Lake.

Martha enjoyed playing bridge and golf. She and Dale loved traveling throughout the U.S. as well as internationally and developed a special relationship with her cousins in the Netherlands.

Martha and Dale were married for 68 years until his death in 2016. Their love and devotion to one another was an inspiration to their children and everyone who knew them.

Martha had a deep personal faith. Even in the last days of her life, she maintained her habit of daily devotions. She was a longtime member of Cheney United Methodist Church.

Martha is survived by her children Lynn (Jerry) Mack of Issaquah, Bob (Cole) of Spokane and Rich (Lisa) of Folsom, Calif.; her grandchildren Julie (Gary) Rodriquez of Maple Valley; Kevin (Sarah) Mack of Snohomish, Andrew Loomer of Seattle, Stacie (Oscar) Nieves of Sacramento, Calif., and Stephanie (Andrey) Kim of Antelope, Calif.; her great-grandchildren Sarah and Faith Rodriquez, Hannah and Caitlin Mack, Isaac and Zach Nieves and Stella and Lucca Kim; her brother Louis Kingma and 23 nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on Nov 10, at 2 p.m. at Cheney United Methodist Church, 204 Fourth St. in Cheney. The family asks that donations in Martha's memory be sent to Cheney United Methodist Church or Evergreen Health Hospice Care (12040 NE 128th Street, Kirkland, WA 98034).