Martha Sue de La Bruere, age 59, died surrounded by friends and family on September 13, 2017, from a brain tumor. She was born November 7, 1957, in Exeter, N. H., to Louis Hector and Anne Fox deLaBruere. She was married to Chas McDaniel of Hampton, N. H., for 20 years and they haf a son, Charles. In 1997, she and Charles moved west from New Hampshire to Minnesota and Iowa.
Martha Sue graduated from Exeter High School in 1975. She received paralegal certification from the University of New Hampshire and enjoyed a successful career with positions at Rockingham County Register of Deeds, Casassa & Ryan, Baudler, Maus & Blahnik, and most recently retired from the State of Minnesota Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, Minn.
A love of open spaces and animals directed Martha Sue’s interests and she helped farm near Lime Springs, Iowa, with Lowell Bigalk and ultimately, on her own small hobby farm. She raised kittens, sheep, chickens, bulls, goats and ground hogs. She helped harvest soybeans and corn. She was active in the communities she lived in and often planned social events where friends could gather. She loved to travel, especially trips to the Grand Tetons and Central Europe.
She is survived by her son, Charles McDaniel of Waseca, Minn., and two grandchildren, Cash Parker McDaniel of Spring Valley, Minn., and Veda Jo McDaniel of Waseca, Minn. She is also survived by one brother, Louis J. deLaBruere of Juneau, Alaska, and four sisters, Andrea (John) Richards and Cathy (Jim) MacDougall of N. H., and Marcia (Ron) Naber and Michele (Ivie) Popplewell of Minnesota. She loved her many nieces, nephews and cousins. Mike and Norma Geanoulis of New Castle, N. H., and Don and Patty Hoyt of Ocala, Fla., are also part of her extended family. She is preceded in death by her infant daughter, Sarah, one sister, Mary Lou Hoyt, her parents, and her partner, Lowell Bigalk of Lime Springs, Iowa.
Because Martha Sue has deep rooted friendships in many places, there will be two locations for a Celebration of Martha Sue’s Life. Midwest friends will gather on Saturday, May 5, 2018, from 1-4 p.m. (program at 3 p.m.) at Forestville State Park near Spring Valley Minn. East coast friends will gather Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the Exeter home of Andrea and John Richards from 1-3 p.m.
Online remembrances at www.caringbridge.org/msdlb or email sheperd15296@yahoo.com.
Paper notes may be mailed to Charles McDaniel and Marcia Naber, PO Box 476, Houston, Minn. 55943.
If you wish to memorialize Martha Sue in some way, she suggested a donation to her favorite public libraries in Spring Valley, Minn., Lime Springs, Iowa or Exeter, N. H.