PETER L. MARTINSON

Peter L. Martinson of West Fargo formerly of Hampden, ND passed away at his daughter’s home on Saturday, October 4, 2014 in the loving care of family and Hospice of the Red River Valley. Funeral Services for Pete will be held on Friday, October 10, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church, Hampden with Reverend Don Reynolds officiating. Pete will be laid to rest in the Storlie Cemetery. Music will be provided by Darin and Judy Hamre, Maureen Bertsch, the High Plains Trio and John Martinson. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, October 9th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Peter Louis, son of Clarence and Mildred (Berntson) Martinson was born on February 23, 1932 in Ramsey County. Pete was raised on the family farm. He attended Overland Township Country School until the 8th grade, as the only student in the class all those years. Pete didn’t have any classmates until he went to Hampden High School where he graduated with the Class of 1950. Pete farmed with his dad and during the winter months worked in Fargo, ND. He met Sharon Anderson from Devils Lake at a dance in Starkweather. They were married June 28, 1958 at St. Olaf Church, Devils Lake. Pete and Sharon moved to the family farm where they would live, work side by side and raise their daughter. To help supplement the farm income, the Martinsons, including Roger and June Martinson would go to California in the winter and Pete would work at General Motors. After Teri started school, California was not a winter option, so Pete and Roger learned the carpet laying business. For over 25 years, Pete and Roger laid carpet in the Lake Region area during the winter. Pete and Sharon loved to travel and spend a couple of months in the Lake Havasu area and Mesa, AZ until their grandson started school. Then you found them traveling the state of ND supporting Jared and the West Fargo Packers Football Team or any other school activity Jared was a part of. Pete loved Teri and Jared’s friends as his own and the door was always open to them. Pete was so proud of his family and his great grandson, Gavin. Pete would play super heroes and power rangers anytime. In his spare time he also enjoyed the family deer hunting season, fishing trips to Canada and bowling on the Lunde Implement Team. Pete was a very social person and loved visiting. He could strike up a conversation with anyone. He was very involved in the community. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council, was on the Overland Township Board for over 50 years, the Hampden Oil Board for 24 years, served on the Hampden School Board and with the Hampden Commercial Club and he was active in Prairie Winds. Pete is survived by his daughter Teri Martinson ; grandson Jared (fiancé Ruth Ehlke) Martinson; great grandson Gavin all of West Fargo, ND; sister Donna Karel, Neche, ND; sisters-in-law Doris Martinson of Grand Forks, ND and Marge James (Chuck) Anderson of Tucson, AZ; brother-in-law John Martinson, Bettendorf, IA; best friend and grand dog Trigger; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pete was preceded in death by his parents; wife Sharon on November 14, 2010; in-laws Roy and Irene Anderson; brother Marvin Martinson; sisters Marilyn Peters Stotts and Clarice Martinson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Alvin Peters, Richard Karel, LeRoy, Larry and Leslie Anderson and Denice Martinson. Casket Bearers for Pete will be his nephews Richard Martinson, Larry Martinson, Roger Peters, Brad Karel, Jeff Karel, Steve Karel and dear friends and cousins Victor Pintar, Ronnie Martinson, Allen Martinson, Todd Rettig, Wade Harpestad, and Patrick Martinson. A special thank you to Nurse Katie and the staff of the "White Team" of Hospice of the Red River Valley for their loving care of our beloved Pete.