Thief River Falls – Larry Dean Martinson, of Thief River Falls, passed away on Friday, May 13, 2022 at the North Star Manor in Warren, at the age of 77.
Larry Dean Martinson was born on July 29, 1944 in Thief River Falls, the son of Ray and Lila (Bakken) Martinson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Larry attended schools in the Pennington County School District.
After his father passed in 1959, Larry lived on the family farm where he continued farming and milking cows with his mother. At that time he had also worked at Arctic Cat and the turkey plant. In 1965 Larry moved to the Twin Cities – working at Booker and Wallestad Plastic Factory and the Thompson Chemical Company.
On July 1, 1967 Larry was united in marriage to Mavis Besch at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. They made their home in Minneapolis until 1970 when they moved back to Thief River Falls to the family farm. To this union two sons, Kelly (1970) and Keith (1972) were born. Together they raised grains and beef cattle until 2010.
Larry’s hobbies included deer hunting, summer and winter fishing with family and friends, making sausage with family, smoking suckers, snowmobiling, ATV riding, and crop tours.
Larry was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls.
Larry is survived by his wife, Mavis of 54 years; sons, Kelly (special friend Linda Quaife) Martinson of Big Lake, and Keith (Colleen) Martinson of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Julie Martinson of St. Cloud, Nathan (special friend Mariah Bugge) Martinson of Thief River Falls, and Jesse Martinson of Thief River Falls; sisters, Edna Johnson of Oklahoma and Joyce Wilson of Lakeville; brother-in-law, Gene Sletten; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Chalich, Yvonne Hall, and Michelle (Paul) Malmanger; Godchild, LeAnn Varuni; and numerous nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clarence, Leroy, and Curtis; and sisters, Irene, Shirley, and Sharon.
Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, with Pastor Thomas Puffe officiating. Burial will follow at Landstad Cemetery, rural Thief River Falls.
Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the funeral service on Thursday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.
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