Martin Christensen

GRANITE FALLS — Private family services for Martin E. Christensen Sr., 76, of Granite Falls will take place at a later time.

Martin died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, at Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Martin was born Nov. 15, 1941, in Pine City to Folmer and Retta (Wallace) Christensen. He was baptized at the Watson church in 1949. He was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo in 1954. He served in the U.S. military from August 1959 to October 1959. He and Nancy Gagnon were married in 1964 and from that union they had three children: Curtis Christensen, Karyn Christensen and David Christensen.

In 1974 he and Linda Villcheck were married and from that union had two children: Ann (Christensen) Torke and Martin Christensen Jr. Then in 1991 he and Josephine Tebben were married. She died Jan. 15, 2017.

Marty worked for the Milwaukee railroad for 13 years and then became an independent owner/operator truck driver with Smith Brokerage of Willmar and Willmar Freight Inc.

Survivors include his children: Curtis Christensen, Karyn Christensen, Ann (and Wes) Torke and Martin Christensen Jr.; grandchildren: Kendra Hiepler, Travis D. Torke, Cynthia M. Torke and Kiley L. Torke; sisters: Maryann Christensen of St. Paul, Margret (and Virgil) Mayer of Montevideo, Marlys Christensen of California and Marlene Christensen of St. Cloud; brothers Marvin (and Marilyn G.) Christensen of St. Cloud and Marlow (and Marilyn A.) Christensen of Waite Park; and eight nieces and seven nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, David; wife, Josephine; grandchildren, Wade and Lisa Torke; and his parents, Folmer and Retta (Wallace) Christensen.