Carl Franklin MARTIN

MARTIN, MCCORMICK, BENTER, STEFFY, BLANEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/5/2008 at 23:30:13

February 29, 1929 - March 31, 2008

Carl Franklin Martin was born in Eagle Grove Township, Wright County, Iowa on February 19, 1929 and died in his home in the presence of his loving family on March 31, 2008. He was the son of Ellen (McCormick) Martin and Glen French Martin of Goldfield, Iowa. He spent his childhood on the family farm with his parents and his four siblings (Donald, Ruth, Glen Earl, and Janet) where the primary crops were soy beans, corn, oats and alfalfa. They raised livestock which included cattle, hogs, and chickens. He was active in 4-H and took pride in showing cattle at fairs. He graduated from Renwick High School in 1946. As his parents did before him, he attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. While at ISU Carl Martin, played the trumpet in the Cyclone Marching Band, worked as a waiter in the women's dorms and served in Air Force ROTC. He met his future wife Bette Lou Benter at a dime dance in the ISU Memorial Union. In the spring of 1950 he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Animal Husbandry and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves. On July 10, 1950 he married Bette Lou Benter in Walthill, NE and they honeymooned in Manitou Springs, CO. Until December 1952, he farmed in Wright County, Iowa. After notification from the Air Force of his activation, Carl and Bette lived for a few months in Walthill, NE. His military training included schools for Technical Instructor, Atomic Energy, Surface Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Squadron Officer and Air Command and Staff College. He was qualified as a Nuclear Munitions Maintenance Officer and one of the few Officers in the Air Force that maintained active qualifications in Explosive Ordinance Disposal which he held for over 15 years. His assignments included service as a Munitions Maintenance Officer, staff officer on the Maintenance Standardization and Evaluation Team (MSET), Strategic Air Command Inspector General Team, and Staff Officer on the Joint European Command Headquarters. His last two assignments were as Commander of Munitions Maintenance Squadrons. He was assigned to many locations in the US and overseas to include: Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS (1954); Albuquerque, NM (1955); Aurora, CO (1955-1958), Hahn AFB, Germany (1958-1961); Ellsworth, AFB, Rapid City, SD (1961-1965); March AFB, Riverside, CA, (1965-1968) Utapou, AFB Thailand (1968-1969); Offutt AFB, Bellevue, NE (1969-1971); European Command Headquarters, Stuttgart, Germany (1971-1975); Pease AFB, Portsmouth, NH, (1975-1979); and Carswell AFB, Ft. Worth, TX(1979). His military honors include: three Air Force Commendation Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, Combat Readiness Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Service Medal. After retirement from Air Force in October 1979, Carl and Bette remained in Ft. Worth, TX; however, he spent much time on family farms in Iowa. Carl and Bette fulfilled their dream of returning to Colorado in 1992. Carl and Bette were active as tax preparers and in 1998 purchased the H&R Block franchise in Monument, CO. After the sale of the franchise, Carl worked for the past few years at the Manitou Springs H&R Block branch, just blocks away from where he honeymooned with Bette in 1950. His lifelong passion was working the soil. No matter where he lived, he usually had a garden and made time to go back to work with family on the farm. He took great satisfaction in working the land and harvesting his garden. His other hobby was helping those in need. He was always ready with a quick smile. He was a respectful and loving son, husband, brother, father, and grandfather. He was kind, generous, soft spoken and had endless patience. Even in his last days he was more concerned about the comfort of others than his own. He was loved by many and will be missed.

Carl's brother, Donald, and their parents preceded him in passing. Carl Martin is survived by his wife of more than 57 years, Bette Lou (Benter) Martin; his brother, Glen Earl Martin and wife Mary Anne of Goldfield, IA; his sisters Ruth Martin of Madison, WI and Janet (Martin) Steffy and husband Raymond Steffy of Louisburg, KS; five sons and their wives: Carl Dean Martin and Carol Blaney of Bellingham, WA; Dale and Linda Martin of Bethlehem, PA; Don and Martie Martin of Lino Lakes, MN; Dan and Margaret Martin of Brookings SD; and Robert Dru and Cathy Martin of Ramstein, Germany. He also leaves eighteen grandchildren (Lucas, Andrew, Calla, Ross, Lindsay, Douglas, Carl, Natalie, Jared, Mary Alexandra (Lexi), Kaela, Abby, Luiza, Arthur, Milena, Joseph, Kevin, Emily), two of their wives (Alisha and Katie) and dozens of other relatives.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be hosted by his family to honor his memory in his home at the address below at 4:00 pm on April 12 and will be followed by an open house. Memorials may be made to the Renwick/Hardy/Vernon Iowa Veterans Memorial Monument or to the Iowa State University Foundation. Cards, letters and flowers can be sent to the address above. Friends and family are invited to share stories of remembrance which can be mailed or emailed to his home at 2255 Totem Pole Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (email is: betteandcarl@msn.com).

Colorado Springs Gazette
Colorado Springs, Colorado
April 5, 2008