Harriet "Holly" Martin 1962-2010

MARTIN BECKWITH HUNTING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/15/2011 at 23:30:18

Sioux City Journal
17 August 2010

SIOUX CITY -- Harriet "Holly" Martin, 48, of Rochester, Minn., formerly of Sioux City, died unexpectedly Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, while gardening at her home.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Rochester, with the Rev. Donald Schmitz officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Friday at the church. Services will be held at a later date in Lansing, Mich. Arrangements are under the direction of Macken Funeral Home in Rochester.

Holly was born Jan. 13, 1962, in New York City, the daughter of Irene (Beckwith) and Ed Hunting. The family moved to Michigan when she was young. She graduated from Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Mich., in 1980, where she founded the girls cross country team. She attended junior college, where she ran track, placing third in a national meet in the 800 meters. She graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan in 1984 with a major in communications.

In Lansing, Mich., she worked for many years in property development and management. She was proud of her Michigan ties.

She married Greg Martin, Lansing fire chief, on June 16, 2001. She founded and operated Doggy Day-care and Spa in Lansing, the first day care for dogs in Michigan. Her business won a number of entrepreneurial awards. She sold the business in 2005 to devote her time to raising their daughter, Sydney.

In 2006, Holly moved to Sioux City after Greg was named fire chief of the Sioux City Fire Department. While in Sioux City, she volunteered at Lincoln Elementary and was active in the PTO. She belonged to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and was a member of Quota International of Sioux City.

The family moved to Rochester in 2008, after Greg was named fire chief of the Rochester Fire Department. She took great pride in volunteering at Holy Spirit School, and helped with Girl Scouts. She was an active member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She had worked in property management and development in Rochester.

Holly was an avid gardener, a fantastic cook and liked to spend time outdoors, where she enjoyed cross country skiing and fishing. She loved spending time with her family, especially at their lake cabin in Michigan's upper peninsula. Currently, she was completing a book containing a compilation of the stories of cancer survivors. Daughter, Sydney, did the art work for the book.

She was a vivacious, funny and warm wife, mother and friend. She was one of a kind and her warmth and energy made all she came in contact with an instant friend. Holly made lasting friends wherever she lived. Her kindness, great sense of humor and energy will be missed.

Survivors include her beloved husband and daughter, Greg and Sydney of Rochester; her loving stepmother, Rita Hunting of Bismarck, N.D.; her brother, Ted and his wife, Cyndi Hunting and their children, Andrew and Megan of San Ramon, Calif.; her sister, Beth and her husband, Bill Towne and their son, Nathan, of Farragut, Iowa; maternal aunts, Francis (Campbell) Laird of Stockbridge, Mich., and Margaratte Beckwith of Oxford, Ohio; a maternal uncle, Sidney Beckwith of Brownsville, Texas; her in-laws, Larry and Valeria Martin of Waterloo, Iowa; her sisters-in-law, Colleen and her husband, Bob Olson of Traverse City, Mich., and their children, Cory Olson, Martin Fleming and Moiri Fleming, and Maurita and her husband, Dave Pennington of Phoenix, Ariz., and their children, Jessica and Justin; her brother-in-law, Stuart Martin and his wife, Coleen of Montrose, Calif.; and their children, Maddy and Miles; and numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Irene and Ed.

Memorials may be directed to Holly Spirit Catholic School in Rochester, Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Mich., for the Class of 1980 Scholarship Fund and the Maxwell C. Matthews Foundation in Lansing, Mich.