Marthana Colleen Hjortland

Hjortland, Dr. Marthana C. On February 6, 2025, at the age of 95 years, Marthana peacefully passed away in her sleep. On July 27, 1929, a daughter was born to Jacob and Martha (Cordelia) Hjortland in Greely, CO. They named her Marthana, in honor of her two grandmothers - Martha and Anna. Soon after her birth, the family moved back to North Dakota. Upon graduating from Fargo High School, Marthana attended and graduated from NDSU and began her career as a dietician. It was at that time that her father passed away. Several years later her mother married Ingvald (I.G.) Lodoen, a widower with two children. A loving, blended family was created. Marthana went on to intern at Ohio State University where she received her first Master's degree in dietetics. Having enjoyed employment in various cities around the country she decided to embark in a new direction and received her second Master's degree in the study of biometry from the University of MN. It was then that she was hired to work at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. She went on to earn her Doctor of Philosophy degree, again from the University of MN. She worked at NIH for 25 years until her retirement. Many honors and awards came her way. She was a consultant on the Apollo Spacewalk at NASA and was an advisor on the Framingham Heart Study in MA. She approved grants for clinical research studies with the cancer and heart centers. She loved her work and Washington DC, but when she retired she returned to Edina, MN to be close to family. She was a member of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. Education was important to Marthana. She enjoyed world travel, writing, genealogy, music, gardening, reading and Bible studies. She loved to laugh and gave the best hugs. Marthana was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Cordelia, and her brother Jay (Joan) Hjortland as well as father I.G. ("Pa") Lodoen and brother Gary Lodoen. She is survived by her sister Linda (Gary) Rindal and sister-in-law Kathleen Lodoen along with many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends. Respecting her wishes, a memorial service will not be planned at this time. Marthana will be buried in the Hjortland family plot at Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Forks, ND later this spring. Memorials preferred to The Children's Inn at NIH or Mount Olivet Home. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

Marthana Colleen Hjortland

July 27, 1929 - February 6, 2025

Tributes

Marthana Colleen Hjortland

July 27, 1929 - February 6, 2025

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203