Carol Lee Ransford

June 22, 1934 - July 28, 2007

Carol Lee (Martin) Ransford entered the Spirit World on Saturday, July 28, 2007, around 2 p.m. Carol was born June 22, 1934, in Belcourt, N.D., the eldest of Henry Martin and Flora Gourneau Martin's 11 children. Carol married Orville "Ike" Ransford 54 years ago. They made their home in Moses Lake, where he retired from the educational system while she maintained the family home.

Each summer Carol would travel to the Turtle Mountain area to participate in an annual celebration honoring St. Ann, the Patron Saint of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Initially she stayed at the home of her parents but over the last years she became a temporary resident at the Martin-Kekahbah, her sister's home during her visits to her community of Belcourt. It was there she took ill on Tuesday, July 24, as she was preparing to attend the daily novena Mass.

At the time of her departure Carol was in Trinity Hospital in Minot, N.D., surrounded by her husband, sons Robert and Tim, daughter-in-law Dawn, grandson Jeremy, Jeremy's wife and their two children, Carol's brothers, sisters-in-law, sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and her cousin and traveling partner Elsie Gourneau McBride. Carol's family plus numerous Martin and Gourneau cousins maintained a constant vigil praying and hoping she would return to them. Unfortunately the Creator had different plans. Although she is gone, she left wonderful memories which will be forever cherished by all of her family as well as everyone else who ever came in contact with her.

Carol's family includes: husband, Ike; Sons, Robert (Dawn) Ransford, Michael Ransford, Timothy (Laura) Ransford, and Curtis Ransford; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; siblings, Janet Lenoir, Henry Mokey Martin, John (Donna) Martin, Twila (Rollin) Kekahbah, Jay (Linda) Martin, Jerry (Charlotte) Martin, Dean (Delilah) Martin, and Cathie (Charles) Gladue, along with many nieces and nephews.

Carol, a vibrant, loving human being was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Flora Martin, sister Judy Sperry, brother Richard Martin, and maternal and paternal grandparents.

Carol's ashes will be entombed in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Moses Lake, where a memorial will be held Monday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m. The traditional Ojibwa fire was lit on Saturday at her original home site, and a memorial will follow on Friday, Aug. 3, at 3 p.m., at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Belcourt, N.D. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Council 4367 of the Knights of Columbus, c/o Our lady of Fatima Parish, 200 N. Dale Road, Moses Lake, WA, 98837.