Arden Johnny Martinson was born on November 21, 1919 in Wanderoos, Wisconsin. He was the grandson of Anton and Bertha (Hagen) Martinson and Thomas Jorgen and Mina Bergina (Arneson) Walby. He was the son of Arthur Bernard and Olga Mitilda (Walby) Martinson. As a young boy he worked on farms, helped his dad haul milk and worked at the cheese factory in Wanderoos. He was united in marriage on March 14, 1946 to Evelyn (Johnson) in Stillwater, Minnesota. They lived and worked on the family farm. They had one daughter, Bev. He worked at Maple Island in Stillwater, MN. In July, 1956 they moved to Wanderoos, his home town, where he worked at lumber yards in Wanderoos, New Richmond and Osceola. For years he was a carpenter around the area. He was a big part of starting the Wanderoos Ball Park, Lions Club and Garfield Fire Dept. He was the town board Supervisor for Garfield Township for many years. He was a bowler, horseshoe player, ball player, 4-H project leader, and softball manager for 4-H and women's softball. He loved fishing and being out doors. He would take his parents and little sister Donna to Yellow Lake, ball games and trips to the North Shore. He loved to work at the ball park and ran many softball tournaments. He was very proud of the ball park. The last few months of his life, he went to the Wanderoos Lions fishing contest, to his great grandson's Boy Scout event at his church, went to Wayne's to eat and later that day, watched The Green Bay Packers win the super bowl. He had surgery, and spent five weeks at Regions Hospital, and then on April 13 he moved to Willow Ridge in Amery. He enjoyed all his visitors. On May 3, he left his family and friends very peacefully. He will be greatly missed by all.
Arden was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Virgil and Eugene "Red" Martinson. Left to mourn are his wife Evelyn; daughter, Bev (Al) Olson; grandsons, Brandon (Michelle) Olson and Brock (Sara) Olson; great grandchildren, Connor and Kennedi Olson; brothers, Don (Ida) Martinson, Chuck (Doris) Martinson and Jim Martinson; sisters, Marlene (Bill) Libby, Marcella (Wendell) Viebrock, and Donna (Harry) Andersen. He also leaves many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. from Bethesda Lutheran Church in rural Dresser, Wisconsin. Burial will be at the Bethesda Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and for one hour prior to the service at the church.