Billings Gazette Billings, MT 13 Mar 2007 FISHTAIL - Martha Whipple Keller, 90, passed away March 10, 2007, at the Beartooth Manor in Columbus, due to complications of post-polio syndrome. Martha was born in Roundup on June 5, 1916, the daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Adolph) Wacker. She spent her childhood north of Roundup in the Lake Mason area on the Neshiem place. She attended Mulligan School with her siblings and cousins. The family later moved to the Fishtail area, where she attended the Twin Butte School. In 1937, she married Ralph W. Whipple and they made their home on Fishtail Creek. Martha loved being a ranch wife. She raised chickens, turkeys and a big garden and she was a wonderful cook. She and Ralph were married for 19 years and to this marriage, a daughter, Sherry, was born. Ralph passed away in 1956. Martha married Jim Keller in 1960 and they spent many happy years together until his death on March 13, 1998, at which time she moved to the Homestead Lodge in Absarokee, where she resided for five years. Later, she moved to the Stillwater Hospital for three years and most recently to the Beartooth Manor in Columbus. During her lifetime, she was a devoted member of the Community Congregational Church, the Fishtail Ladies Aid, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, the Order of Eastern Star and the Dean Club. Martha had a strong work ethic and up to her final moments, was busily preparing meals and taking care of everyone in her mind and heart. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Ralph and Jim; brothers, Jake, Edd, Reiny, Gus, Harry and Henry Wacker; sisters, Gertie May, Margaret Wacker and infant sister, Betty. She is survived by her daughter, Sherry (Jim) Edwards of Fishtail; grandchildren, Scott Schottle of Absarokee, Angie (Ron) Hoover and Kaity (Rylan) Williams of Columbus; great-grandchildren, Jake, Elly and Dani Hoover and Jonas, Ambria and Jace Williams, all of Columbus; a brother, Albert Wacker of Red Bluff, Calif.; and sisters, Hilda (Eugene) Stein of Klamath Falls, Ore., Leona (Harold) Hougardy of Santa Maria, Calif., Marian Pinkham of Miles City; and sister-in-law, Florence Wacker of Roundup; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 15, at 1 p.m., at the Community Congregational Church in Absarokee with interment to follow in Rosebud Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Church's Music Fund at PO Box 88, Absarokee, MT 59001. Special thanks to the staff at Beartooth Manor and to the Stillwater Team of Big Sky Hospice for their kindness during Martha's last weeks. Smith Funeral Chapel of Laurel and Columbus is in charge of arrangements.