Beverly E. Martens

Obituary

Beverly Elaine (Watland) Martens was born on February 7, 1931, in Minot, North Dakota, to James and Ruth (Craine) Watland. Beverly grew up in Fillmore, North Dakota. She was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth at The Lutheran Church in Fillmore. The family moved to Detroit, Michigan, and later to Spokane, Washington, before moving back to North Dakota. She received her education in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and was a graduate of the Devils Lake High School Class of 1948. After high school, Beverly continued her education at North Star Teachers College in Warren, Minnesota, and obtained her licensure for teaching country school.

In 1949, Beverly was hired as the teacher for the Lyndale country school, grades 1-8, in Lynn Township, McLeod County, Minnesota. There she met Donald Martens, a dairy farmer just a mile from the school.

On June 6, 1950, Beverly was united in marriage to Donald Martens at the Evangelical Reform Church in Glencoe, Minnesota. Shortly after getting married, Beverly and Donald moved to Virginia when he was drafted from the National Guard into the Army during the Korean War. Beverly and Donald moved back to Lynn Township in 1951 and resided on the Martens family farm where Donald operated the family farm. This marriage was blessed with four sons, Steve, Tim, Jeff, and Dan. They shared 53 years of marriage together until Donald passed away on March 28, 2004.

Beverly was a member of the Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Hutchinson.

Beverly took a keen interest in the family’s Brown Swiss dairy herd. For seven consecutive years the Martens’ dairy herd was the top-producing Brown Swiss dairy in Minnesota. Beverly also enjoyed artwork, building floats for parades, and searching the Internet. In her later years, she enjoyed her Arabian horses. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren, and friends. Over the years Beverly was able to visit family in many states, including Florida, Arkansas, California, and Oregon. She also visited her family’s ancestral home and stayed with relatives in Stavanger, Norway.

Beverly moved to Harmony River Living Center on March 3, 2020, and passed away there on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the age of 89 years. Blessed be her memory.

Beverly is survived by her:
Sons, Steven Martens and his wife, Linda B.,
           Tim Martens and his wife, Linda R.,
           Jeff Martens,
           Dan Martens and his wife, Donna;
9 Grandchildren, Denicia Ahrenholtz, Sena Bradley, Cara Mills, Eva Messerly, Tia Czepizak, Stephanie Russell, Kimberly Martens, Anthony Martens, and Natasha Martens;
10 Great-Grandchildren, Joshua Bradley, Zane Ahrenholtz, Lily Bradley, Evelyn Mills, Eliza Bradley,
Madelyn Ahrenholtz, Eysa Mills, Nathan Messerly, Liam Czepizak, and Charlie Mills;
Siblings, James Watland and his wife, Sharon,
                Richard Watland and his wife, Karin,
                Martha Anne Hunter and her husband, James,
                Linda Gustafson;
Many Nieces and Nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

Beverly is preceded in death by her Parents, James and Ruth Watland; Husband, Donald Martens; Brother, Roger Watland; Sister, Betty Erickson; and Brother-in-law, Hugo Gustafson.