Nina E. Martin, 86, of Gothenburg, formerly of Farnam, died Jan. 7, 1999 at Hilltop Estates. Nina was born Jan. 12, 1912 at Barracksville, West Virginia as the ninth child of WIlliam and Sarah Soxman Hughes.

Her family had long been employed in the coal mines and were beginning to see the deadly results of constant exposure to the coal dust and accidents due to neglect of precautionary timbering. As a result of this, Nina and her family chose to leave the coal fields in 1921 and moved across country in two touring cars to California. The family's first work experience there was in the fruit and nut operations of northern California near Red Bluff. Again the work was seasonal and limited. The family moved to Burlingame, Calif., in 1925, where Nina attended and graduated from high school in 1930.

She continued to do housework for others as she had done through high school, and adding other employment to help with the family's day to day expenses. During this time she attended San Mateo Jr. College for a year where she was interested in art and bettering her life status through education.

In 1933, Nina traveled to Nebraska with her future mother-in-law. She was married to Elgie Thompson Jan. 12, 1934 at Oberlin, Kansas. They farmed north of Farnam until 1938 when they traveled west via Brownsville, Texas, to Red Bluff, California, looking for work.

They returned to Nebraska, moving south of Farnam to farm the Kerr place. For eight years they farmed north of town until 1957 when they moved into Farnam.

Nina began working outside the home, employed at Clement's Mercantile, the Broken Spoke, and Hoppe's Country Store.

Following the death of her husband Elgie in 1970, she continued working until 1979, when she married Jack Martin. In 1987, Jack and she moved to North Star Apartments in Gothenburg where she still resided at the time of her death.

Jack preceded her in death in 1988.

Her latest joy besides her family and friends was her work at the Gothenburg Senior Center, where she was employed as a Green Thumb member.

Nina was a longtime member of the Farnam United Methodist Church, Farnam American Legion Auxialiary, Easter Rebekah Lodge, North Union Aid and several bowling leagues.

Survivors include four daughters, Betty Hoppe-Stevens and her husband Ken Stevens of Farnam, Sally Thomas of North Platte, Ruth Ann (Irvin) Hess of Farnam and Pat (Ron) Binning of Batavia, Ohio; four step-children, June Cooper of North Platte, Jerry (Sandra) Martin of Fairbury, Doug (Sue) Martin of North Platte and Norma Florom of McCook; two brothers, Don (Margaret) Hughes of Petaluma, Calif., and Joseph (Elvira) Hughes of San Jose, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-granddaughter; 11 step-grandchildren; 17 step-great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, four brothers, husbands, a son-in-law and two grandsons.

Funeral services were Jan. 11, 1999 at Farnam United Methodist Church with Rev. Eugene Beye officiating.

Burial was in the Farnam Cemetery.

The Gothenburg Times