Vivian Marie Martin

Vivian Marie Martin passed away on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Morning Star Senior Living. She was 97. Vivian was born June 19, 1920 in Golden Valley, North Dakota to Alpha and Pearl Barker. She was their first child and only girl. Five brothers followed Vivian: Dean, Bob, Stan, Keith and Max. Only Max survives her.

As the oldest, and a girl, she had a lot of practice with childcare and homemaking; lessons that stuck.

The family moved to Scobey when mom was a sophomore, where she graduated in 1938. Only about a year later Florn Martin saw a picture of her and declared, “I’m going to marry that girl,” which he did, on October 23, 1939. They were both 19.

Mom was a homemaker extraordinaire. Her baked goods and cooking in general were legendary. She also cared for many children through the years and painted a lot of rooms and houses for people too.

Friends would follow Allan, Cheryl and Rusty home from school to see if Mrs. Martin had baked that day. She usually had. History repeated itself a generation later when grandsons Ross and Wes, who grew up in Poplar, brought their pals over to Gram’s for fresh carmel rolls. All her grandchildren were so special to her, and she to them. They also include Theresa (deceased), Florn, Pam and Jan.

Vivian and Florn had six grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

Vivian kept the homefires burning, as did so many young women of the Greatest Generation, while Florn, a sergeant in the army, welded on warships in Seattle, the Philippines and Japan.

As a child of the Depression and war wife Mom knew how to ‘make do’ and how to do without and did it well, never complaining.

When Florn returned from the war, Mom had bought a house, in which they raised three children and lived for sixty-three years until moving to Billings. Leaving their beloved home of Poplar was very difficult for both of them. Billings was nice but Poplar was home. Their strong ties with the Poplar Presbyterian church and congregation gave them immeasurable comfort through the years.

Mom and dad were married for 71 years and, of course, she never got over missing him after his passing.

Allan (Carol), Cheryl and Rusty (Juanita) wish to thank Morning Star and Stillwater Hospice for their outstanding care and their caring people.

As per Vivian’s wishes, there will not be a funeral. A graveside service will be held this summer.