Martha Bernhardt, 85, Strasburg, died October 18, 2015 at the Baptist Health Care Center. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, October 23, 2015 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Strasburg, with Rev. Jason R. Signalnessas celebrant and Rev. Leonard A. Eckroth as con-celebrant. Burial will be at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery.Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at Myers Funeral Home, Linton, with a Parish Vigil / Rosary at 7 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.Martha was born March 19, 1930 in Venturia, ND to Philip and Katherine (Frison) Lacher. She was raised on a farm north of Venturia and graduated from Zeeland High School. On November 27, 1950 she married Jack Bernhardt in Zeeland and they made their home on a farm south of Strasburg where they raised their family. Martha helped Jack on the farm and taught elementary school until they moved to Bismarck in 1999. Martha and Jack shared 51 years together. Jack passed away in June 2002. We will miss her smile. Her smile reflected her soul - her kind-hearted, creative, educated, yet mischievous soul. Mom put her whole body into her laughter - often going into a coughing fit - so deep was her expression of joy. Her eyes would sparkle - her smile as wide as can be - and then she would look away - as her mind reminisced of other happy times.Mom took great joy in her family. She was proud of all of us - and we were proud of her. She was first and foremost a wife and mother. Secondly, she was an educator. She set the standard for her children and the community in her steadfast pursuit of education. She was an elementary school teacher at St. Benedict's Grade School, she attended college courses whenever she could, and finally attained her lifelong goal of receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Mary. With degree in hand, she continued her education at Bismarck State College and the University of Mary until she was well into her 70's. Mom was a great cook, a talented baker, an avid reader, an OK gardener, an exceptional seamstress, an on-call medic (nine kids!!), a sage in the field of arts and crafts, a knowledgeable butcher, a makeshift mechanic, a reliable errand runner, a bookkeeper, a drop-in babysitter, a shuttle driver, and an expert in the production of home-grown chickens to make her renowned chicken and cream gravy!Mom was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary. She held many leadership roles in the VFW and was a great proponent of the Buddy Poppy, the official memorial flower of the VFW. We remember well all the beautiful creations she came up with each year for her Auxiliary's Buddy Poppy display. We believe Mom's patriotism had a strong influence on the decision of her children and grandchildren to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Mom maximized her organizational talents off the farm by serving on the Church Council, working in the church office, and serving on the Linton Hospital Board. After moving to Bismarck she continued to share her talents and volunteered through RSVP where she received special recognition for her work.Martha is survived by eight of her children Jim (Eloise) Bernhardt of Mandan, Jeanne Bernhardt of Bismarck, Richard (Marla) Bernhardt of Spring Hill, KS, Rosie (Dave) Markwed of Bismarck, Robert (Brenda) Bernhardt of Aberdeen, SD, Marlys (Leon) Morgenstern of New Salem, Mary (Jim) Wheeler of Bismarck, and Jeff (Suzy) Bernhardt of Brookfield, WI; 19 grandchildren, Miranda and Ben, Aaron and Alex, Elyse and Jamie, Mike, Martha, and Phil, Desiree and Josh, Katrina, Kirsten, and Anna, Trevor, Cody, and Cory, and Emily and Rebecca; many beautiful great grandchildren; brother, Pete (Lorraine) Lacher; sister, Lena (Eugene) Goldade; and sister-in-law, Clara Lacher.Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her daughters, infant Kathryn and Jacqueline in 2008; her parents, Philip and Katherine; brothers, Joe and Eugene; and sisters, Rose, Eva, and Betty.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Strasburg.