Donald Marcellis Martinson

For the first time in 92 years, Tuesday started without Donald Marcellis Martinson. Don Martinson’s earthly life came to an end on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017 at his home at Deer Crest. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, at United Lutheran Church, Red Wing, Minn., with Reverend Karl Rydholm officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Oaklawn Cemetery, Emmons, Minn. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to United Lutheran Church or Red Wing School Foundation.
He was born Nov. 1, 1924 to Jeffery and Theresa Martinson on a small farm in Leland.
Sad to say, his education got off to a rocky start when after the first day in kindergarten, he refused to go back. He told his parents that he wanted to “learn reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic, not just nap on a rug.” His argument carried the day, and he spent the year helping his mother do wallpapering. Working by her side, he learned to trim and paste and how to eliminate bubbles in the wallpaper. These were all skills that he found useful years later when his daughters moved into their own homes. He completed his last wallpapering project at age 82!
Iowa law required kindergarten completion before a student could begin first grade, so Don had to go back to make up his lost year in Lake Mills, Iowa. He then continued thru the grades in Lake Mills, and Scarville, Iowa and graduated from high school in Emmons, Minnesota in 1943. Then Don joined the Navy Seabees (1943-1946), married his sweetheart, Blanche Leonhardi in 1945, saw combat on Okinawa, and processed out in 1946.
He remembered the words for Abraham Lincoln inscribed over the door at Lake Mills High School: I will study and prepare myself and some day my chance will come. So he resumed his education.
Two years at Waldorf College, two more at Saint Olaf College, advance study at the University of Minnesota prepared this kindergarten drop-out for positions as teacher, principal, and superintendent in various school districts: Eagle Bend, Renville, Bemidji, and Red Wing, Minn., where he served as Director of Business Affairs (1969-1985). Red Wing was a place where he had a chance to make a significant difference. He took that chance and succeeded.
His frugal budgetary measures brought financial stability to the Red Wing School District. He did what had to be done even though his budget decisions were often not popular with administration and teaching staff. “You never need to apologize for doing good” was what he had heard from his father, and Don took that precept to heart. It wasn’t easy, but Don Martinson did a lot of good for students and the taxpayers he served.
He was generous and philanthropic in his support for church and community ventures. (Though he was known to give short shrift to telephone solicitors). He volunteered with Faith in Action and Men in Mission, and served on the council at United Lutheran Church.
His was a life well-lived. For Don Martinson, there is no more fitting accolade than these words from the book of Matthew: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
 He is survived by two adopted daughters: Wendy (Frank Berlingis), San Antonio, Texas; and Heidi (Tracey Peterson), Hager City, Wis.; granddaughter, Jennifer (Derik Voigt), Columbus, Ohio , grandson, Frank Berlingis, Jr. (Daniel), Clearwater, Fla.; and great-grandson, Trevor Austin Voigt, Columbus, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche; three-day-old son, Darryl; his parents; three sisters; one brother; and many brothers- and sisters-in law.