Service Information
David L. Martin, age 78, of rural Gaylord passed away Monday, December 13, 2021, at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm.
Funeral Service will be Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 11:00 A.M. at Bernadotte Lutheran Church, Bernadotte Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota, with interment in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, December 20, 2021, from 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Bernadotte Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service, ALL at the church.
Military Honors by the Minnesota National Guard Funeral Honor Guard.
Obituary
David Leslie Martin was born on January 15, 1943, in New Ulm, Minnesota, and grew up on a farm near Lafayette. As a teen, he was an active member of 4-H and Future Farmers of America. After finishing Winthrop High School in 1961, he attended college at the University of Minnesota. He worked construction in Texas. He split his time between working the family farm and doing construction jobs in Minneapolis.
On March 18, 1964, David entered active military service and served his country in the United States Army. He received the Expert (Rifle) Medal. David was Honorably Discharged on January 29, 1970.
David married Sandy Nielsen at First Lutheran Church in Tyler, Minnesota, on November 12, 1966. He convinced his new wife to rent a little white house out in the country where they stayed for the next 55 years.
David and Sandy farmed up to 2,100 acres of corn and soybeans for several years. They built a farrow-to-finish hog operation. David won Nicollet County Farmer of the Year in 1988. He would attend to details such as keeping acres and acres free of button weed and touching up the John Deere green paint on his equipment. He kept his list of “eight million things to do” on a yellow scratch pad. “All I do is fix, fix, fix,” he’d say. David and Sandy eventually cut back the acres they farmed and rented out their barns, but David had no intention of ever retiring.
David spent 30 summers playing for the Bernadotte softball team in Lafayette. He water skied and taught many teens to water ski. He learned to snow ski as an adult and planned family trips to Utah and Colorado to ski different resorts each year. He served the Lafayette area through Bernadotte Church and the Lafayette Lions.
David shared his relentless spirit with his two daughters--“Those combine windows better be streak-free!” he’d say when checking their work. He instilled in both of them a love for travel and a strong sense of loyalty, community, and persistence.
David is survived by:
wife, Sandy (Nielsen) Martin;
daughters, Carey Martin McLaughlin and her husband, Michael; and
Amy Martin and her husband, Ron Hvinden;
granddaughters, Melisandra, Corrigan, Reece, Savannah, Sierra;
nieces, Annie Nasset, Alison Timmons.
David was preceded in death by parents, Leslie and Mary Martin; aunt, Lillie Oscarson; sister, Nancy (Martin) Nasset.
E. Lei Amorim says
My heartfelt sympathies to Sandy, Carey, Amy and their family members. Will miss David and cherish all the good memories we’ve had over the years. Blessed be his memory.
Gayle / Kevin Ordorff says
Our sincere condolences to the Martin family. Prayers for family to find comfort and peace. Bless all of you.
Russ Lange, an old friend of the family from Winthrop says
Sorry to hear about Dave, my condolences to the family.
Terry Poock says
My Sincere thoughts and prayers to the family during this very difficult time. Losing a father is rough but his memories will remain with you forever
Karine & Ben Blazovich says
Our thoughts and prayers are with Dave’s family. Deepest condolences.
Kay (Buysse) Booth says
My condolences to the family. I worked many summers walking bean fields for Dave and eating Sandy’s bars/cake, and watching Dave play softball in Lafayette … good memories!
Kay (Buysse) Booth says
My condolences to the family. I worked many summers walking bean fields for Dave and eating Sandy’s bars/cake. Also, watching Dave play softball in Lafayette … good memories!
Juli Neubarth says
So sorry to hear about David. Sympathies to the entire family.
Charles (former classmate) & Sharon Frank says
Our deepest sympathy to all the family. We have fond memories of the class party at the farm. You will be in our prayers for comfort & Peace.
Marie Howe (Caregiver for Dave) says
I loved working with Dave and his sassy comments he would share with me. He was a very determined man. It was very easy to make him laugh or smile if you knew how. I am so very sorry for Sandy, Amy, and the whole Martin family. Spending time with you all through the caregiving process of Dave is an experience I won’t forget. Thank you for the opportunity to get know such a wonderful man and wonderful family.