Martin J. Breth, 76, St. Anthony, MN

Martin J. Breth, age 76 of St. Anthony, died unexpectedly on Friday, May 18, 2012 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 22 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony with Rev. Blane Wasnie, O.S.B. officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Martin John Breth was born June 13, 1935 in Krain Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Stephen, Sr. and Catherine (Gerads) Breth. On October 13, 1959 he married Alvina George in Upsala. Martin owned and operated a blacksmith shop in St. Anthony for a short time. He then began working at Granite City Iron Works in St. Cloud, retiring at the age of 69. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony.
Martin enjoyed simple things in life including cutting wood, gardening, woodworking, fishing, hunting, and going to steam threshing shows.
Survivors include his wife, Alvina Breth of St. Anthony; children, Linda (Dennis) Katzner of Albany, Marie (Mike) Dirkes of Albany, Diane (Roger) Roerick of Upsala, and Kevin Breth of Upsala; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren with one due in July; brothers and sisters, Reinert (Ione) Breth of Upsala, Dorain Layton of Portland, OR, Irene (Ernest) Pierskalla of Albany, Stephen, Jr. (Annette) Breth of St. Anthony, and Herbert Breth of Melrose; and sister-in-law, Barbara Breth of Albany.
Martin was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Werner Breth; and sister-in-law, Irene Breth.
Casket bearers were Kyle Breth, Craig Roerick, Derrick Dirkes, Kaitlyn Roerick, Christina Dirkes, and Alex Katzner. Cross bearer was Sara Roerick and scripture bearer was Tiffany Breth. Gift bearers were Stephen Roerick and Gabby Katzner and basket bearer was Elizabeth Stich. Reader was Tiffany Breth. Eucharistic Ministers were Ann Cremers and Mary Stich. Eulogies were read by Ben Katzner and Craig Roerick.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.