Martha Alma Zylstra, the eleventh of twelve children, who were born to Martin G. and Bertha Schuttinga Zylstra, was born on April 13, 1916, near Sully. She attended the Sully Christian Grade School in Sully until 1925 when the family moved to Pella, where she graduated from the Webster Grade School. Zylstra graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1933 and then attended Central College in Pella for two years. She was employed at the Pella National Bank as a teller until 1959. She and her sister, Anna Zylstra, then moved to Mountain View, Calif Zylstra was employed as a clerical secre­ tary in the office of a Land Development Company in Palo Alto, California, until 1995.

She then returned to Pella because of her ill health. She initially made her home with her brother, Chester Duco Zylstra and his wife, Lee, until she became a resident in a nursing home. Since August of 1995, she had been cared for in the Sheltered Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center. She passed away on July 8 in the Long Term Care Unit at the age of 88 years, 2 months and 25 days. Zylstra is survived by a sister, Cornelia (Peter R.) Van Gorp, also a resident in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center; her youngest brother, Chester Duco Zylstra and his wife, Lee, also of Pella; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Martin G. Zylstra, who died in 1952, and her mother, Bertha Zylstra who died in 1956; two sisters who died in infancy; her brothers Gerben, Rienk, Gerald, Paul and Cornie Zylstra and their wives; two sisters Alyce M. Ver Meer and her husband, Jacob A. Ver Meer; Anna Zylstra; and a brother-in-law, Peter R. Van Gorp. Zylstra made profession of her faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella and at the time of her death was a member of the Covenant Reformed Church of Pella. She enjoyed walking and traveling and had drawing talents. She was a loving and caring person, who was always concerned for others.

Memorials may be given to a charity of the donors choice.

[The Chronicle (Pella, IA) 15 Jul 2004, p.7]