Martha Johnson was born at Vejle, Denmark, October 24, 1874, and died on Friday, August 20, 1920, being 45 years, 9 months and 27 days old. She was the oldest of a family of twelve children, seven of whom survive her, together with the father, Mr. John P. Johnson, of Blair, Neb. her sisters are: Mrs. Marie Gossard of Cabri, Canada; Miss Hansena Johnson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mrs. Johannah Plantz, of Omaha; Mrs. Samuel Johns of Blair; and Mrs. Della Weber, of Los Angeles, Calif. Her brothers are : Mr. V. M. Johnson, Grand Island, Neb., and Nathan Johnson, of Omaha.

She is mourned by a devoted husband, Mr. John Lampshire, and his five living children Lyman and Wesley, who reside in Lincoln; Misses Elsie and Dorothy, and Gilbert, the three younger children, who live at home.

When deceased was but two years of age she came with her parents across the deep to the new world. They settled in Cuming County, Nebraska. Not faring well on the farm in those early days, the family removed to Blair, where her father still resides.

Her mother died there twelve years ago. And seven years ago, on September 13, 1913, she married Mr. John Lampshire, becoming acquainted first with his children and then with him in Sunday School and church at Lincoln. Three years after their marriage they moved to North Dakota, remaining there another three years, and thereafter they came to live at Dorchester a year ago.

Last week Mr. and Mrs. Lampshire with the children drove to Ong, Neb., and spent a few days visiting friends in that neighborhood. On the way home on Friday, Mrs. Lampshire was taken with heart failure not far from Exeter, and expired with out speaking a work or making a sign to indicate the approach of death. Arriving at Exeter, efforts were promptly made to relieve her, but all that physicians could do was unavailing. She had passed out of reach of human skill, and her spirit eluding the arms of those who were eager to detain her, escaped to the Arms of One still more tender and more mighty.

The sudden stroke of this bereavement fell on the family with bewildering and tragic effect. The community, too has been greatly stirred.

Mrs. Lampshire was a woman of many refined qualities. Possessing but little regard for self, she gave her life freely for others. Long before her mother died, she was her mother’s constant helper, and her mother in dying received from her a promise to stay with her father as long as he needed her, and take up the duties of a mother to the younger children. Thus she remained unmarried, while the golden years of her young womanhood passed away, resisting in those years repeated offers of respect, and putting aside the thought of a home of her own, turning steadily to the routine, sometime arduous and hard, of daily duty.

The rigid conscientiousness and fidelity was afterwards carried over into her married life, for it was with care and pains and unlimited love that she now devoted herself to the rearing of her stepchildren, to whom she proved indeed a second mother, patient, kind and ever true. And so, as they have grown up a dear and rare attachment on the part of the children has repaid in part her affection. The oldest boy, Lyman, has been especially thoughtful of her

She was a friend to many people who were in trouble, ready to leave her own affairs to minister to the sick and soothe the distressed. The record of her lowly and numerous benefactions cannot be gathered here for many of these are unknown saves to the one benefited. On the ledgers of God, however, an enduring entry has been made we do not doubt of all these things, to the credit of the one who at length has quietly fallen asleep.

Her lost in life has not been among the great, the renowned. But in humble scenes and in modest ways she has not failed to adorn the doctrine of God her Savior in all things. She gave her best. She has done what she could. A great deal that to say of any mortal, it is true, and perhaps only the Master Himself should say it. Nevertheless, those who knew her best steadfastly believe this to be true of her.

The reward of her life of sacrifices, as far as earth is concerned, is the lasting gratitude of many a heart. But beyond this, in the better land, in the world to come, her name, humble as it has been, will be mentioned with honor we believe, and shining rewards far better than any inherit, will be a part of her eternal inheritance!
J. B. Williams ~~~Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public Library.~~~