On May 25, 2022, Lester John Martens, 89, went to be with the Lord. He passed away at St. Vincents in Billings.
Les was born and raised in Lustre. After graduating from high school in Lustre, he then served two years in the Army. During that time of his service in the Army, he married Joann Grimsrud. They started their family and had three children. Les and Joann were married for 29 years and then divorced.
Les was a farmer and rancher most of his life. After that, he worked the mail route and other odd jobs. He worked for others farming peas, etc. He later moved to Miles City. Throughout his life, Dad worked with speed, strength and endurance each and every day. That is what he was good at ... working hard each day. He was tough and strong in mind and spirit. He was determined to keep on going no matter what. Dad was always like that up until his death.
He loved to talk about the crops along with calving in the cold and snowy weather with a few blizzards in the mix. Lastly, he spoke about how much he loved and missed the wide open spaces and farmland.
Les was preceded in death by parents, Jake, 70, and Hilda, 96; little sister, Leona, who passed at 2½ years old; and brother, Denver, who was killed in a car accident at age 21.
Les is survived by three children, Kendall (Carla) of Helena, Chad (Sherri) of Billings and Shelley of Wolf Point; grandchildren, Cami of Billings, Joshua (Drew) of Barcelona, Spain, and Kyler (Todd) of Butte; great-grandchildren, Cabin (Albert) of Philadelphia, Pa., Wilder of Billings and Josephine of Barcelona, Spain; great-great-grandchild, Khayir of Philadelphia, Pa.; ex-wife, Ruby Joann of Wolf Point; brother, Jim (Marilyn) Martens of Des Moines, Iowa; and sister, Geri (Gene) Sperling of Fresno, Calif.
It was offered for Les a full military funeral service and burial. Instead, it was decided that Dad would be cremated. His ashes will be given to family and the rest will be spread out to places that were important and special to him. So this is goodbye Dad. Be still ... and rest in God’s peace.
(Paid Obituary)
