Carl Martinson

MISSOULA — Carl Martinson, 83, of Polson, died Aug. 2, 2006, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula following heart surgery.

Carl was born in Ismay on June 21, 1923, to Nels and Elsie Martinson. He attended schools in Creston and Kalispell. Carl was a member of a very close large family of nine brothers and sisters who were raised on the family ranch near Creston.

He was a very proud American veteran who served in WWII as a glider pilot, after the war he came home and married Marie Lindal. Carl and Marie had two children, Pamela and Curtis.

Carl retired in the fall of 1996 after selling The Captain's Wardrobe Dry Cleaners in Polson that Marie and Carl had owned for 15 years. In previous years they had owned cleaners in Columbia Falls, Portland, Ore., and Priest River, Idaho.

He had a great love of horses and was a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Assoc. Inc. He participated in the rodeo circuit for many years all over the west. He was also a member of the Salish Shrine Club Mounted Patrol of Polson.

Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Martinson of Polson; parents Nels and Elsie Martinson of Kalispell; brothers, Elfred Martinson of Vancouver, Wash., Lloyd Martinson of Kalispell, and Glenn Martinson of Auburn, Wash.; sister, Nora Stricker of Kalispell.

Surviving are his daughter Pam Hansen and husband Michael of Missoula; son, Curtis Martinson and wife Karla of Pablo; grandchildren, Julie Wehr; great-grandchildren, Thorsen and Kiegan Wehr.; brother, William Martinson and wife Rae Marie of Spokane.; sisters, Ann Lucas and husband Don of Polson, Opal Larson and husband Jim of Shelby, Della Dooley and husband Hugh of Oklahoma City, sisters-in-law, Dorothy Martinson of Moscow, Idaho, and Joann Martinson of Auburn; numerous nieces and nephews.

The family gives special thanks to Dorie Taylor of Polson, one of his favorite dance partners, who was a dear friend to our father and brother in his later years.

Cremation took place at the Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies in Missoula. A graveside military memorial service will be held at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15. No reception due to the interment at the Missoula Cemetery to be buried with his wife, Marie.

Carl will be truly missed by all who knew him.