H. Martens

Memorial services for H. Lee Martens, 86, will be held at 1:00 pm Wednesday, February 7th at Upton United Methodist Church with Rev. Gene Hagerman officiating.
The family asks that memorial contributions be given towards the Upton Ambulance Service or Upton U.M.W. United Methodist Women.
Lee died Saturday, February 3rd at Weston County Health Services in Newcastle, Wyoming.
Lee was born March 5, 1920 on his parent?s homestead ranch south of Upton. He was the youngest of three children born to Henry Peter and Clara Christine Willadson Martens. Lee attended elementary school at the Martens-Foltz country school and graduated from Upton High School in 1937. After graduating, he worked as a ranch hand for Paul Baker, then drove a haul truck at the local bentonite plant. Lee loved to dance and met his future wife, Thelma Slagle, at a country dance at Clareton, Wyoming. They were married August 2, l941 in Sheridan, Wyoming.
He enlisted in the navy shortly after Japan?s attack on Pearl Harbor, and served as sonar man on the minesweeper, USS Gherardi. His ship was the first to sail into Tokyo Bay following the Japanese surrender.
Following the war, he returned to Upton and the bentonite plant. He remained active in the business for many years by prospecting and filing claims in Crook and Washakie counties.
Lee and his brother Jack bought the family ranch from their parents and ran a cow/calf operation until Lee bought his brother?s interest. He continued to improve and increase the X-Ring until 1970 when he sold the cattle and leased the land.
After retiring, Lee and Thelma traveled throughout the USA, enjoying their time together. He was an avid hunter and spent a great deal of time looking for white tail deer in the Black Hills and mountain sheep in Sunlight Basin. He instilled his enthusiasm for hunting in several grandchildren and enjoyed teaching them how to hunt.
In later years, he kept busy by taking his chain saw, cutting down trees and stacking firewood. He was a craftsman in everything he did, from building fences to picture frames, children?s toys and walking sticks.
Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Thelma and brother Jack Martens.
Surviving him are his children James E. Martens, wife Kathy and their children Megan, Myla, Jason and Alysha; and daughter Judy Martens Bartels, husband Don and their children Clay, Wes, and Joe. Also surviving is a sister May Fox and eleven great grandchildren.