SHARON E. MARTINSON

Sharon E. Martinson, 75 of Hampden, ND passed away on Sunday evening, November 14, 2010 at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND. Funeral Services for Sharon will be held on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, Hampden, ND. Rev. Donald Reynolds will officiate and burial will be in the Storlie Cemetery, rural Hampden. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Time of Remembrance at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will be at the church on Friday one hour prior to the funeral service. Urn Bearers for Sharon will be Richard Martinson, Larry Martinson, Patrick Martinson, Todd Rettig, Roger Peters, Chris Peters, Steve Karel and Travis Hermanson. Music will be provided by High Plains Singers, Sharon’s nieces, Barb Lunde, Clarine Evans, Diane Blue (The Martinson Girls), Congregational Hymns and John Martinson, organist. Sharon, the loving daughter of Roy and Irene Anderson was born on January 31, 1935 at Devils Lake, ND where she was raised and educated, graduating from Central High School in the class of 1953. She then attended Aakers Business College in Grand Forks. After completing her education, Sharon began employment with Devils Lake Implement in Devils Lake. Sharon was united in marriage to Pete Martinson on June 28, 1958 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. They established their home on the farm at rural Hampden, and here they lived, worked and raised their daughter through the years. Sharon’s life had many aspects-faith, family and food. Sharon was a very active member of Faith Lutheran Church and the WELCA. She was a renowned gourmet chef as far as her grandson and all of his friends and half the men of Hampden were concerned. She believed that no meal was complete unless it consisted of meat, potatoes, gravy and dessert and no one was ever allowed to leave the table hungry. Many of the locals would try any excuse to have to be at the Martinson house at meal time. They knew Sharon would insist they stay to eat. Family was everything to Sharon and she never missed a football game, a school or Sunday school activity that her grandson was participating in. Now Sharon had looked forward to being a part of her great grandson’s life. Sharon also enjoyed various craft projects and served as a 4-H Leader in her younger days. Sharon was proof positive that love could be shared in so many different ways. Sharon is survived by her husband of 52 years, Pete; daughter Teri Martinson of Fargo, ND; grandson and great grandson, Jared Martinson and his special friend, Kalyn and their son, Gavin; sister, Margaret “Marge” James and her special friend, Chuck Anderson of Tucson, AZ; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Marvin and Doris Martinson, Hampden, Marilyn and Vernald Stotts, Devils Lake and Donna and Richard Karel, Neche, ND; several nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Jerry, Larry and Leslie Anderson; sister Denice Martinson; nephew Russell Martinson and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Mildred Martinson.