Martha J Ralston

Martha Jane Ralston was born at home May 23, 1928 in Cook County, Chicago IL. To Joseph John Dominion and Phoebe Josephine Furgeson Salato. She was the youngest of three children with an older sister Catherine and brother Perry. She attended Herman Raster Elementary School (K-8) and Harper High School (9-12) in Chicago, IL. Martha was a member of the National Honor Society, graduating with honors in 1946. Martha was a Girl Scout of Troop #29. She was a First Class Girl Scout where she earned two full sleeves of badges and the ‘Curved Bar’ achieving the highest level in the Girl Scouts of America. She served as a Girl Scout Leader in Woodstock, IL and Boulder, CO and an Assistant leader in Chicago, IL. Martha served as secretary of the Girl’s Athletic association where she lettered numerous times earning bars in biking, running and hiking. She also earned an “H” for Civic Club. Martha was a Junior American Legion member.

Martha met her future husband, Paul, at Camp Cuttin, Lake Villa, IL. She served as the Camp Nurse. They were united in marriage March 10, 1956 by Paul’s father at Grace United Methodist Church in Sioux City, IA. They celebrated 61 years together and were blessed with four children.

She attended The Little Company of Mary School of Nursing in Chicago, IL becoming a Registered Nurse in 1950. Martha continued her education in 1951 taking classes in Operating Room Professional Techniques and Procedures at Northwestern University Post Graduate School of Nursing in Cook County, IL. Martha started as a Pediatric Nurse then advanced to the Operating Room (OR) at the Little Company of Mary Hospital. She moved to the Cook County Hospital OR where she assisted with the first ever kidney transplant in Chicago’s history. She moved to Independence, MO and worked in the OR/ER at the Sanatorium Hospital. Martha was a Private Scrub Nurse for a Neurosurgeon at St. Joes Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA. Upon settling in Boulder, CO, she worked at Community Hospital, Memorial Hospital and the Rocky Mountain Eye Foundation Surgery Center. During her career she advanced from Staff Nurse to Supervisor retiring in 1992.

Martha is listed in Who’s Who in Nursing and was a member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), a Lifetime Member of the Colorado Mineral Society, Flatiron’s Mineral Club, WIPS Paleontology Society and Niwot Grange. Martha was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Boulder for 57 years and the United Methodist Women (UMW). She served as the Altar/Flower Chairperson and worked in both the Nursery and Toddler’s rooms.

Martha enjoyed doing arts and crafts, drawing, ceramics, traveling with her family, and rock hunting. She loved to sew and collect gems and minerals, dolls and antiques. She worked extensively on the genealogy of the Ralston and Salato families.

Martha is survived by her four children: Craig (Linda) Ralston, Donna (Michael) Richter, Paula (Larry) Thompson and Barbara Ralston. Five Grandchildren: Rebekah (Joe) Savo, Jessica (John) Bradley, Sarah (Jesse) Hostetter, Christopher and Travis Richter. Four Great Grandchildren: Johnathan Ralston, Charles Savo, Nora and Madeline Bradley.

She possessed a loving caring heart with great compassion for others. Martha never failed to lift the spirits of those around her. She had a warm and engaging smile that touched the lives of many over the years. Martha was a devoted loving mother and wife. She loved to laugh and relished sharing stories with family and friends. She was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.

Memorials can be given to the Flatiron Mineral Club Scholarship Fund and the Little Company of Mary School of Nursing C/O The Ralston’s at 8952 Audubon Court Longmont, CO 80503.