Elvey Herman Julius Martinson went to sleep and on to heaven on Sunday, January 6, 2013. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nina (nee Knutson) Martinson of Midale; son Dayle (Dixie) of Midale, their children: Tricia (Craig), Colby and Logan; son Lyle (Teri) of Calgary, their children: Jodie (Gerard), Makenzie, Kyla and Larah; son Neil (Rhonda) of Midale, their children: Kara, Megan and Jordan; son Glenn (Becky) of Medicine Hat, their children: Jillian, Abby, Molly and Zachary; daughter Joyce of Regina, her children: Hannah and Martin. Elvey's sister, Hazel (Willis) Emde of Midale; in-laws, Annie Swerhone of Saskatoon, Doris Knutson of Weyburn, Ethel Hanson of Kelowna, BC, Helen Holth of Edmonton, AB, Olaf (Marge) Knutson of Camrose, AB, Delores Sogge of High River, AB, Lillian Knutson of Edmonton, AB, Bernice Knutson of Abbotsford, BC. 27 nieces and nephews and many friends. He was born 19 days after World War One ended, on November 30, 1918, west of Midale on the old Kolke farm. He was the second son to Marius and Hannah Martinson. They lived on several farms throughout the area from Midale to Goodwater during Elvey's childhood. Elvey went to school in a one-room schoolhouse called Waite School. He attended until Grade 8, and then began his farming career. In 1937, the family's house blew away in a tornado. The house was lifted high in the air, and smashed down into a pile of rubble. Eight people were inside. Miraculously, everyone survived with just a few bruises. In 1953, he married Nina Knutson. They started a family right away. They raised the kids on the farm west of town. Elvey spent many hours driving kids to hockey, choirs, and church events. The Midale Lutheran Bible Camp was also a passion. He was a board member there and spent countless hours maintaining the camp in the off-season and preparing for the upcoming camping season. His commitment to the camp was immeasurable; if a job needed doing he did it. The kids got married, beginning in 1980. Elvey held his first grandchild in 1982, and his 16th in 2005. In 1983, Nina and Elvey moved to Midale and turned the farm over to Dayle and Neil. For the first years, Elvey went to the farm almost every day to help. But in 1987, macular degeneration set in, and Elvey began to lose his sight. Soon, he could no longer drive. He used to say he wished he could see for one-and-a-half minutes a day so he could see what all his grandchildren looked like. In 2011, at the age of 91, he moved into a nursing home. He spent three months at Tatagwa View in Weyburn. Then he moved to Mainprize Manor in Midale. On January 6 at about 6 PM, he died peacefully at the age of 94. He was a devout Christian and a proud Norwegian. He loved painting, drawing, and telling stories, and was passionate about his animals. He served his community for many years on the Ag Board and the Pasture Allocation Committee as well as the Camp Board for 35 years. He carried a few things with him in life: a plier in his pocket, a New Testament in his shirt pocket, a grin on his face, and a hum on his lips. The funeral service was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Midale on Thursday, January 10 at 2 PM with Pastor Cicely McDougall officiating. Acting as pallbearers were Jordan Martinson, Colby Martinson, Logan Martinson, Martin Martinson, Craig Wilgenbusch, and Kyler Emde. Honourary pallbearers were Kara Martinson, Jodie Martinson, Megan Martinson, Makenzie Martinson, Tricia Wilgenbusch, Kyla Martinson, Larah Martinson, Jillian Martinson, Hannah Martinson, Abby Martinson, Molly Martinson, and Zachary Martinson. Donations may be made in memory of Elvey to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Midale or to Metochos Lutheran Bible Camp of Estevan. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapel in Weyburn, 306-842-5432.
