Martha Collyard

Martha Jane Collyard

Surrounded and comforted by family, Martha Jane Collyard lost her battle with COPD at 8:45 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2015 at Guardian Angels Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hibbing. Martha was born on March 19, 1926, at Penobscot Hill (North Hibbing) to Jack and Theresa Smokrovich and eventually moved to the west side of Hibbing with her family. On Feb. 22, 1947, Martha married returned WWII veteran Joseph Collyard and they made their life-long home in Hibbing. As a younger woman, Martha enjoyed fishing (even ice fishing), gardening, picking berries and mushrooms, having a beer with Joe at Checco’s bar, listening to country music, playing cards with friends, riding a snowmobile and on occasion, she even kept Joe company while he was grouse hunting. As she grew older she enjoyed going to the casino, riding around in the country and looking for wildlife, especially deer, feeding the local geese, scratching lottery tickest and giggling like a school girl on the phone with her sister Lucille. Most of all, though, Martha enjoyed the company of her family.

Martha was mostly a stay at home mom known for her excellent baking and cooking. Although she worked only a little outside of the home, Martha was a hard worker keeping a home for her family, and she was known to shovel snow and help gather firewood along with other chores. She was a physically strong woman who had an extremely strong grip.

The family expresses its’ gratitude to her ‘friends’ at Guardian Angels and doctors and staff at the Hibbing Family Medical Center and Fairview Range Medical Center.

Martha is survived by her children David (Gloria) Collyard of Bemidji, MN, Dennis (Peggy) Collyard of Hibbing, Joette Collyard of Hibbing and Gary (Bobbi Nyland) Collard of Hibbing; grandchildren: Kate, Chris, Matt and Tony (Teri) Collyard, Dr. Carrie (James) Glinsek, Lindsey (Travis) Claypool; and great grandchildren Jessica, Etta, Lyla, Finnegan and Piper; a sister Ann Pluth of Chisholm; a sister in law Florence Gates of Hibbing and many nieces and nephews. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; husband Joe in 1986; only brother Jack Smokrovich; sisters: Mary VanHooser, Lucille Hanegmon and Mandy Nelson

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 1 in the Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing. Visitation will be Friday in the funeral home from 10 am. until service time. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery                                                   .