Lillian Martin

Lillian Martin, age 95 of Osakis, MN went to meet her Lord on Sunday, December 22, 2019 from the Galeon in Osakis where she was a resident.

Lillian Genevieve Johnson was born on April 5, 1924 in Gordon Township, Todd Co, Osakis to Thorvald and Olga (Johnson) Johnson.  She grew up in Osakis with two brothers and a sister and graduated from Osakis High School.  She delighted in singing in Church with her sister and in wearing matching outfits when they danced at Diamond Point.  Lillian married Orville Martin on September 11, 1942 at the Osakis Lutheran Church, three days before Orville was to leave for duty serving in the U S Army during WWII.  During his service time, Lillian lived with Orville’s parents and when he returned, they rented a farm from George Herberger northwest of Clotho, MN and spent the next year and a half there.  Orville also worked at his brothers Terrazo Company for five years. He later worked for the government and started a business selling and fixing Cub Cadet lawn mowers.  Lillian was a marvelous homemaker and took care of raising their three sons, in addition to helping with the farm work.  Despite her small size, she could handle the many chores, including the many bales to be moved during summer haying.  After 65 years on the farm that they purchased in 1948, the Martins moved to the West View Assisted Living Apartments in Osakis, MN.

Lillian loved her family and country home.  She preferred being outside with Nature, especially in the garden, walking, rock hunting and occasionally slaying rattle snakes.  She was an avid bird watcher and would often recognize the song of a bird, knowing what bird it was and search until she found it.  She didn't see Dandelions as pesky weeds, but rather a few more bottles of dandelion wine.  If she had to be inside, she loved to read, crochet, knit, do ceramics, can and juice items from the garden and baking - she was an admitted Chocoholic.  She also loved to laugh and tease (with a twinkle in her eye.)  She wasn't fond of cooking, but whipped up one delicious meal after another.  Nothing fancy, just good home-cooked food.  She was loving, sweet, spunky, feisty, brave, strong and tiny - at least once described as a spit-fire!  She was very loved and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her sons, Dean & Doris Martin of Charleston, SC and Darrell & Karen Martin of Long Prairie; 9 grandchildren, Dale, Kim, Heidi, Jody, Todd, Jessica, Joshua, Eli and Aron; 20 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Sharon Martin of Bozeman, MT; many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Orville in 2013 after 71 years of marriage, their son, David Martin; a brother, Marvin Johnson and a sister, Evelyn Faust.

Arrangements by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home, Osakis, MN