Martha Louise Liefeld (nee Carlstrom, 92) of Mesilla passed away peacefully in hospice care on May 12, 2022.
“Marty” was born on an island in the middle of the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to Kenneth R. and Verna Anna Carlstrom on February 2, 1930. Her father was a proud Swedish American (born Knute Ragnar Jacobsson). Kenneth worked as a draftsman in the steel industry and for the Pullman-Standard Company. He educated himself by reading the encyclopedia every night. Verna’s family had a long American history with roots in the Alsace region of France and Germany. Marty embraced her Groundhog Day birthday. She was fond of dessert generally and flan specifically. It wasn’t a good idea to share a desert with her. She cherished her granddaughters above all else.
In her 92 years, Marty experienced American history. Her earliest recollections were of living in the unheated attic of her grandfather’s house during the Great Depression while her father was out of work. A favorite uncle survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She had a deep love for music, playing the cello, singing in the choir, and playing the piano for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. After graduating high school in 1948, she attended Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. During her junior year, she spent a semester in Mexico City, making life-long friends and generating a love for Mexico and the Spanish language she would hold throughout her life. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and subsequently taught Spanish at Medina High School. After her marriage to Robert Liefeld, she taught at Bexley, Ohio, and continued her education, obtaining her master’s degree in Spanish from Kent State University in 1954.
Marty and Bob moved to Las Cruces in 1961. While he taught Physics at NMSU, she taught English as a second language. She was active in the community and a supporter of the arts. She was an early member of the Guild for the Las Cruces Symphony at NMSU and served as a board member for the Branigan Cultural Center. Marty was a founding member of Las Colcheras, a local hand quilting group that met in the old Hospitality House on Alameda. The group continues to this day and has expanded to over 130 members. She helped make award-winning quilts, some of which were highlighted in national publications. Even after failing eyesight left her unable to participate, her “Old Batts” quilt group continued to meet at her house until very recently, churning out beautiful creations.
Always ready with a smile, Marty was an inspirational figure and mentor to many. Friends, neighbors, and acquaintances alike were deeply dedicated to her. Her son’s friends felt supported and welcome in her home. She would listen intently to people’s stories, always telling them to “write that down.” While raising a family, Marty worked several jobs, including as the administrator to the Superintendent of the Southern New Mexico State Fair. In midlife, she became a grants writer for La Clinica de Familia. The job combined her passion for writing and language with an ability to make a difference by obtaining medical and public health services for underserved populations in the Mesilla Valley. She retired from La Clinica de Familia at 80 years of age, moving to La Mesilla, where she restored an historic adobe home.
Marty is survived by her son Eric Liefeld, daughter-in-law Trina Witter, brother Ed Carlstrom, and her beloved grandchildren Rigel and Averey. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ken and Verna Carlstrom, her brother Ken (Bud) Carlstrom, and her former husband, Robert Liefeld.
The family wishes to thank Marty’s many wonderful caregivers and Mesilla neighbors for keeping her safe and comfortable. A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, 2022, at 3:00 pm at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Written memories can be sent to PO Box 1780, Mesilla, NM, 88046.
Arrangements are with La Paz – Graham’s Funeral Home / 555 West Amador / Las Cruces, NM 88005. To sign the online guest book, visit www.LaPaz-Grahams.com
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Published by Perches – Graham’s Funeral Home (La Paz – Graham’s Funeral Home) on May 20, 2022.
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