Oliver Benhard MARTINSON, Sr.

MARTINSON, HOLSTAD, MUUS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/1/2015 at 01:20:10

July 12, 1901 --- August 17, 1971

Funeral services for Oliver B. Martinson Sr., were held at the First English Lutheran Church in Faribault on Aug. 21, with the Rev. Hjalmar F. Hanson and the Rev. Duane C. Hoven officiating. The congregation sang the hymns "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" and "Just As I Am" accompanied by Mrs. Gene Severson, the church organist. Pallbearers were Larry Martinson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bruce Martinson, and Brian Martinson of Faribault and Randy Martinson, Byron Bleisner and Steve Davisson of Fairmont. Interment was made in the family lot in the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery in Faribault. Relatives and friends attending the services from away were from: Fairmont, Lakefield, Gustsavus, Alaska, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Lake Mills, Iowa, Emmons, Iowa, Northwood, Iowa, Mason City, Iowa, Clarion, Iowa, Chisago City, Goodhue, Red Wing, Alden, Minneapolis, Kenyon, Albert Lea, Twin Lakes, Kiester, Grand Marais, Edina, Dodge Center, Forest City, Ruby, N.D., Chicago, Ill., Detroit, Mich.

Oliver Benhard Martinson, the son of Edward and Betsy Holstad Martinson was born at his parents farm home near Northwood, Iowa on July 12, 1901. As a child, he moved with the family to Lake mills, Iowa and there he attended school and grew to young manhood. He was first employed in an automotive garage in Lake Mills and later managed a Ford garage at Clarion, Iowa. On Oct. 30, 1925 he was united in marriage to Nelia Muus at Floodwood, Minn. They resided at Clarion for several years and later moved to Algona where Mr. Martinson was the manager of the parts department of the Ford garage. In 1944 they moved to Faribault and for many years Mr. Martinson was employed as a salesman for the K & G Automotive Service. Later he served as a sales representative for the Behren's Automotive Service of Red Wing for 16 years until his retirement in 1969. Since then, he and Mrs. Martinson have continued to make their home in Faribault.

Mr. Martinson passed away unexpectedly at the Rice County District One Hospital in Faribault on Aug. 17. He is survived by his widow Nelia; by five sons, Oliver Jr., of Fairmont, Donelly and Bernard of Faribault, James of Lakefield and David of Gustavus, Alaska; by 17 grandchildren and one great-grandson, by a brother John Martinson of Clarion, Iowa, and a sister, Gilma Martinson of San Francisco, Calif.; by a number of nieces, nephews and by other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Martinson was a long time member of the First English Lutheran Church in Faribault and had served as a Sunday School teacher for many years.

Faribault Daily News -- Faribault, Minnesota
September 2, 1971