Martha C. Sumada

Martha Caroline Sumada, 79, of Minneapolis, MN, passed away on July 10 while under the loving care of her husband, Bob, and the staff of the N.C. Little Memorial Hospice of Edina. Martha was born in Detroit Lakes, MN, on February 27, 1945, to Dr. William Dodds and his wife Mary Ann (Hage). Martha, the eldest of five "Dodds girls," attended Detroit Lakes High School where her superb writing skills and engaging personality earned her accolades from the Honor Society and the editor-in-chief role on the school yearbook. While still in high school, Martha began working at Norby's department store in downtown Detroit Lakes. Little did she know that this part-time job would evolve into a 45-year retailing career in Minneapolis. Upon graduation in 1963, Martha enrolled at the University of Minnesota where she studied merchandising and joined the Tri Delta sorority. In 1967, she took a full-time sales position at Al Johnson Clothiers in Minneapolis. Martha's quick smile and innate sense of style made her a star in the world of specialty retailing. Over the years she held store manager positions at Lowell Lundeen Jewelers and Main Street Outfitters in Minneapolis. Martha completed her retail career in 2012 following 23 years as a store manager for Crate and Barrel. Martha married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Sumada on May 23, 1987. Bob was managing stores at Now Sports, the largest bicycle retailer in Minnesota, and this couple seemed to be known to everyone. Most nights you'd find Martha and Bob dining with friends at the Loon Cafe, Giorgio's, Runyans, the Pickled Parrot, the Saint Paul Grill, CocoLezzone, Palomino, Café Lurcat, Faegre's, and The New French Café. In 1993, Martha and Bob purchased a cottage on Lake Sallie in Detroit Lakes, which was within walking distance of Detroit Lakes golf course and The Hotel, the area's best restaurant and bar. It soon became the focal point of their summers. Although Martha had become a city girl, she was never far removed from her small-town roots. In Detroit Lakes, she attended We Fest every year and was a regular at the weekend flea market where she'd always find a few treasures for their lakeside cottage. Martha quietly celebrated all the little things in life - the spring equinox, the fragrance of their flowering crabapple tree, and freshness of the air following a summer rain. She seemingly never forgot a face or a story, and the room always got a little warmer and happier whenever she walked in. She relished hearing of Bob's exploits on the golf course, but she felt sorrow for the others in his foursome who had to forfeit a few dollars to her husband. She loved her cats, which always seemed to remain as kittens. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Sheila (England), her brothers-in-law Terry Taves, Carroll Rasch, and Bill Marchington, and her nephew, Jake England. Martha is survived by her husband Bob Sumada, her sisters: Barbara (Rasch) of Minneapolis Kathy (Marchington) of Jardine, MT, and Betsy (Taves) of Detroit Lakes; as well as her brother-in-law Mike England, and her nieces and nephews - Nick, Greg, Claire, Annie, Tina, and Alex. A celebration for Martha's life will be held September 18th at 1pm at Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum, 3600 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to the N.C. Little Memorial Hospice of Edina, MN.

Tributes

Martha C. Sumada

February 27, 1945 - July 10, 2024

Tributes

Martha C. Sumada

February 27, 1945 - July 10, 2024

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