Martha Ann Pilegard passed away January 8, 2026.  She was born November 19, 1938 in Sanger, California to Tennis and Emma Erickson.

Martha met her husband Stan at a Luther League ice skating event in Fresno when Stan & his friend drove Martha home.  Stan loved Martha's smile and was hooked right away.

Martha were married September 12, 1958 at Trinity Lutheran church.  They spent 62 years together building a life they loved.  Stan and Martha worked side-by-side as they farmed, showed horses, worked on projects and raised their four children; Lynn Marie, Sandi Louise, Jeffrey Eric and Kristen Ann.  Martha loved hosting family and friends, always welcoming people into her home and offering them a meal.  In the summer, they loved spending weekends with family at their cabin in Camp Sierra.

After they were married, they moved to Sanger where they began farming vineyards with Martha's dad, Tennis Erickson, eventually purchasing the farm from Tennis.  After making a significant change to farm citrus, they began a citrus packing company.  Stan handled the farming and packing and Martha was in charge of the finances.

Martha volunteered her time as a 4-H leader, a Sunday School teacher, a choir member and a soloist for community events.  In 1990 Martha applied for a job as a librarian at Jefferson Elementary in Sanger.  She was a librarian for nearly 2 decades at 3 different schools.  Reading to the kids was one of her favorite things.

Martha's greatest loves were her husband, her family and her Savior Jesus Christ.  Martha is survived by her family who misses her deeply: children Lynn & Jacob Andresen, Sandi & Mark Peterson, Jeff & Christiane Pilegard, Kristen & Jacob Rusconi, grandchildren Adam & Justine Peterson, Tim & Arielle Peterson, Jacob & Arev Andresen, Ben Peterson, Daniel & Katrin Andresen, Kori & Justin Frauenheim, Chris Andresen, Rachel Rusconi, Hannah Rusconi, and great-grandchildren Sydney, Claire & Jacob Andresen, Luke, Rhett & Eric Peterson, and Levi Andresen. They are also survived by Martha's sister Barbara Cucuk, Stan's brother Dick Pilegard and their brother-in-law Kurt Dinkelmeyer.

Remembrances may be made to Quail Lake Community Church, 3350 N. McCall, Sanger, CA 93657