REFLECTIONS
Let’s go back in time, 70 years ago on Oct. 15, 1955. On that date, Thomas Walters and Martha Beckman offered their wedding vows on a sunshiny day in a Catholic church in Burlington, Iowa. More than 200 people attended this wedding, which took place in a rural setting six miles from North Dakota and 18 miles from Canada. It isn’t often that a couple will reach the 70-year mark and beyond.
Martha and Thomas Walters reside in Blooming Prairie. They will celebrate this hallmark event with a gathering of family on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. The Walters family includes their five children:
- Gregory (Karen), Mound
- Mark (Gina), Bemidji
- Gwen (Gayle), Blooming Prairie
- Dan (Angela), Ackermann
- Carl (Mary Kae), Eau Claire, Wis.
Martha and Thomas have nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Martha is the daughter of Stephen and Helen Beckman of Burlington, Iowa. Thomas is the son of Edward and Rose Walter of Saskatchewan, Canada and Hallock, Minn. Thomas and Martha said their vows at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Burlington. On that beautiful sun-laden day with temperatures over 70 degrees, the newly married couple enjoyed congratulations from family and friends. Both the bride and groom still enjoy their love for one another by keeping connected by their involvement in community activities. Both always devote special time to their family members.
On the wedding day, the late Harry Thornberg was best man. The late Joan Beckmann Flores was the maid of honor. Tom and Martha will always be grateful to their cousin Lorraine Slattery who introduced them. Lorraine’s mother, Helen Walters Schulte, was Tom’s aunt, and Lorraine’s father, Clem Schulte, was a cousin of Martha’s father.
In late January 1954, Tom’s dad, Edward Walters, and his brother, Ed, drove down to St. Paul from Hallock to attend Tom’s graduation from St. Thomas College. Tom’s mother, Rose, had died the previous summer. Rather than go back up north, the bachelors decided to drive south to visit the relatives in Burlington, Iowa. During their visit, cousin Lorraine Slattery hosted a dinner party for them. She decided to invite her cousin, Martha, who worked at a surgeon’s office in Burlington, to attend also. Tom and Martha got acquainted at the party and had the opportunity to date a couple times before the Walters men returned to Hallock.
In May 1954, Tom received his commission as second lieutenant in the Air Force and left for Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, but managed to get back to Burlington en route. He and Martha continued to correspond by frequent letters, and then in October 1954, Tom was transferred to Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis, and he was able to drive up to visit Martha frequently on weekends.
In January 1955, he proposed to Martha, and they made wedding plans for Oct. 15, 1955. The wedding took place at St. John’s Church in Burlington, which was just across the street from her home. Shortly before they were married, Tom was transferred to Selfridge Air Force Base near Detroit, and that is where they made their first home.
Tom earned a degree in business from St. Thomas College, St. Paul. Tom farmed with his brother, Edward, in Graceville. He also served with the PCA in Morris. Tom was asked to be VP of the PCA regional office in BP. Tom ran a flower shop with Frank Vorlicek.
Martha worked for three surgeons before her marriage. She worked for Dr. John Flor in BP from 1976 to 1993. Both Martha and Thomas enjoy gardening and camping. Both were leaders of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Tom served in the Air Force from 1954-56.
People often say the longer couples live together, the more they look like one another. That’s true with the respected Walters couple. Both share a common faith, and both share family values. The couple understands each other.
Happy 70th Martha and Thomas!