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Rev Ronald Dean “Marty” Martinson

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Rev Ronald Dean “Marty” Martinson

Birth	:	28 Oct 1935 Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	19 Aug 2015 Anchorage, Anchorage Borough, Alaska, USA
Burial	:	Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.2987130, -91.7774110
Plot	:	Columbarium
Description	:	Ronald D. Martinson (1935 - 2015) The Reverend Ronald D. Martinson, 79, pastor and former bishop of the Alaska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran in America, died at his home surrounded by his family on Aug. 19, 2015, after a struggle with cancer. Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, at Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova Street in Anchorage, Alaska. Interment will be at a later date in Decorah, Iowa. Born on a farm near Decorah, Iowa, on Oct. 28, 1935, Ron was the son of C. Melvin and Ethel Martinson. He was baptized on Dec.... Read More	Ronald D. Martinson (1935 - 2015) The Reverend Ronald D. Martinson, 79, pastor and former bishop of the Alaska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran in America, died at his home surrounded by his family on Aug. 19, 2015, after a struggle with cancer. Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, at Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova Street in Anchorage, Alaska. Interment will be at a later date in Decorah, Iowa. Born on a farm near Decorah, Iowa, on Oct. 28, 1935, Ron was the son of C. Melvin and Ethel Martinson. He was baptized on Dec. 14, 1935, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. During his high school years he participated in football, basketball and track, and sang with his church youth choir as well as the Luren Singers, the local Norwegian men's choir. During his school years he worked for seven summers as a carpenter alongside his father. Those days of carpentry gave him important skills which he used throughout his life. He attended Luther College, in Decorah, majoring in math-science and physical education, playing football and participating in track. At Luther he met Marilyn Lokensgard of Marshalltown, Iowa. They both graduated in 1957, and were married on Aug. 24, 1958, by her father at Elim Lutheran Church in Marshalltown. Answering a call to the ministry, Ron received his divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and was ordained in his home church in Decorah, on June 25, 1961. Ron's early years of parish ministry were spent at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seattle, Wash. (1961-63); First Lutheran Church, Astoria, Ore. (1963-1970); and Grace Lutheran Church in Salem, Ore. (1970-1982). From 1969 to 1981, he also served as Vice President of the North Pacific District of The American Lutheran Church. In 1982, he received a call to serve as lead pastor at Central Lutheran Church, Anchorage, Alaska, where he served until January 2000. In November of 1999, Ron was elected Bishop of the Alaska Synod of the ELCA and was installed on Jan. 14, 2000, by the Reverend George H. Anderson, serving through July of 2006. During his term he worked with 30 congregations scattered across Alaska from Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska to Shishmaref on the Seward Peninsula. He was integral in establishing the Seward Peninsula Endowment Fund, with the goal of helping those five Inupiat congregations to become financially self-sustaining. Midway through his term, a fire destroyed part of the church in Brevig and Ron organized the work teams that rebuilt the church and spent many hours there, using his carpentry and construction skills. Ron relished these years - meeting and working with people throughout the synod, encouraging the work of pastors and congregations and helping the Synod acquire gifted clergy. Luther College awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate in 2000, citing his building of parsonages, churches and Habitat homes in Alaska; serving as a board member of a number of service organizations and schools, including Pacific Lutheran University; his volunteer hospital chaplaincy work; and his participation as a member of various municipal-government committees. For five years he was on the board of Alaska Children's Services, serving for three years as its president. In Salem, he filled a short vacancy as chaplain at the Salem Hospital. During his 33 years in Anchorage he has often volunteered at Providence Hospital, regularly visiting church members and others who needed a visit. Throughout his life Ron enjoyed all aspects of carpentry, whether it was fixing a pocket door, installing a wood floor, building playground sets for his grandchildren or a compost box for his son. He always liked to be active, whether playing handball with his friends, hiking with church youth groups or family in the mountains, gardening with Marilyn or mowing his lawn. In his retirement he took care of the lawn maintenance at Central Lutheran until he became unable to do so, because of his illness. He spent many hours watching his grandchildren participate in sports and music activities and was so proud of all his family's accomplishments. Ron Martinson was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by Marilyn, his wife of 57 years; and his sister, Cheryl Spear (Dennis) of Mesa, Ariz.; as well as his four children, Joel Martinson (David Reece) of Dallas, Texas, Anne Hancock (James) of Anchorage, Sara Ericksen (Donald) of Kalispell, Mont., and John Martinson of Anchorage. He was a proud grandfather of Brittany and Kari Hancock; Ingrid, Leif and Kirsti Ericksen; John Michael Ogorek Jr.; and Alyssa Jones. His family members lovingly described Ron in these words: strong, compassionate, helpful, builder, reverent, industrious, Good Samaritan, shepherd, "he made friends easily" and Dad. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome memorials to the Central Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Lutheran Social Services of Alaska, to The Seward Peninsula Endowment Fund or to a cause of your own choosing.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rev Ronald Dean “Marty” Martinson's memorial?
Rev Ronald Dean “Marty” Martinson's memorial is located at: Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA.
When did Rev Ronald Dean “Marty” Martinson death?
Rev Ronald Dean “Marty” Martinson death on 19 Aug 2015 in Anchorage, Anchorage Borough, Alaska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rev Ronald Dean “Marty” Martinson's memorial?
Latitude: 43.2987130
Longitude: -91.7774110

Family Members:

Parent

Carsten Melvin Martinson

(1908 - 1976)

Ethel Marie Roney Martinson

(1917 - 2000)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lutheran Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2987130, -91.7774110

2. Phelps Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2908150, -91.7830920

3. Saint Benedict Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2835999, -91.7818985

4. Freeport Cemetery
Freeport, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3006000, -91.7430000

5. Aasa Haugen Home Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2698330, -91.8421110

6. North Washington Prairie Pioneer Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2560997, -91.7236023

7. Union Prairie Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2585983, -91.8368988

8. Canoe German Methodist Church Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3529000, -91.7358000

9. Russell Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3608017, -91.7885971

10. Washington Prairie Lutheran Church Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2378006, -91.7378006

11. Washington Prairie Norwegian Methodist Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2352982, -91.7433014

12. Glenwood Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2947998, -91.6760406

13. Bruvold Farm Cemetery
Nordness, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2221968, -91.7509863

14. Springfield Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2221985, -91.8171997

15. McIntosh Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2696991, -91.8833008

16. Springwater Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3792000, -91.7431030

17. Madison Lutheran Church East Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3133000, -91.8986000

18. Hauge Lutheran Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3922000, -91.7740000

19. Canoe Ridge Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3537000, -91.6577000

20. Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2817001, -91.6346970

21. Garfield Family Cemetery
Conover, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2266900, -91.8846700

22. Pontoppidan Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2747002, -91.6339035

23. Madison Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3135986, -91.9233017

24. Scandinavian Methodist-Episcopal Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2695000, -91.6347000