By Sara QuamYou never stop being a mother … even when your sons are almost 62 and 64. Martha Bakken doesn’t have any secrets to share about why she’s so close to her sons or why she seems to stay on top of what’s going on in their lives. She said, "Mothers always give advice. It’s the thing to do."Martha is the mother of Richard — a farmer, cattleman and Rock County Commissioner — and Howard Bakken, who is a musician and retired music teacher living in North Carolina.Martha now lives in the Tuff Village, Hills, where Richard spends Sundays visiting her. They catch up on family news and often discuss county politics.Richard describes his mother as humble, well-read and wise. "She’s lived her life by the Golden Rule and I think that’s how she judges politics," Richard said.She follows news locally, but also reads the Argus Leader and watches television news stations.Martha wouldn’t say how much influence she has over Richard’s commissioner votes. However, she did help talk him into running for office when he was first asked to do so by retiring commissioner Wendell Erickson."She encouraged me when I was little and she still does," Richard said.Martha said she is proud of her family. "One son is a good farmer and one is a good musician."Leading with loveAs a former one-room schoolhouse teacher, Martha is still the family leader and the go-to person for fast facts. How many feet are in a mile, it will occur to one of them. Martha knows it’s 5,280.She had her boys when, because of the war, there were still grocery rations and a shortage of diaper-covering rubber pants. Richard said, "She had a certain way of doing everything." Martha did the wash on Mondays and gathered eggs from the hens at noon. She led the family and still leads it with the idea of togetherness.Richard said family time didn’t have to be worked into their schedules. "When there were chores, we would all be in the barn together. Family time was most of the time," Richard said.Martha won’t let anyone tell her she is a great mother or wonderful matriarch. She just loves her family and tries to do right by them.The only thing she dislikes seeing in some mothers is unloving treatment toward their children. "We all make mistakes," Martha said, "but I don’t remember ever spanking them."Richard said, "I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a home where we were allowed to do what we wanted to do … We just had good parents. They expected us to do well so we expected us to do well. They respected us and expected good things from us, and we respected them."Howard said, "Long before Dr. Phil and his ilk, she sensed that Richard and I had many different interests and goals, and she supported us both in a non-preferential manner." He said that continued with Martha’s grandchildren. Richard’s children grew up across the road from their grandparents. Howard’s children, who then lived near Chicago, never sensed a difference in their relationship.Martha now has six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, whom she enjoys watching grow and succeed.She has been widowed for a few years and is mostly independent — still managing her finances, exercising, checking out books from the library and attending church."I’m thankful now that I’ve got my family to help take care of me," she said.