Francis
Martell, 85
Oklee
- Francis P. Martell, 85, died on Wednesday,
June 4, 2003 at Villa St. Vincent in
Crookston.
Mass of
Christian Burial was held on Monday, June 9 at St.
Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee with the
Rev. John Kleinwachter officiating. Barb Melby was
the organist and Lori Melby was the soloist.
Casketbearers were all of Francis' grandchildren.
Interment was in St. Peter Catholic Cemetery in
Gentilly with military honors accorded by the
American Legion of Crookston.
Francis
Peter Martell was born in Gentilly on December 6,
1917, the son of Henry and Celina (Amiot) Martell.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Catholic
Church in Gentilly and attended rural school. He
worked on the family farm until entering the United
States Army on June 13, 1941 at Fort Snelling.
During his service, Francis received the Purple
Heart and was honorably discharged on December 10,
1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisc. He returned to the family
farm.
On June
21, 1949, he married Cecelia Brault-Ayotte in
Gentilly. The couple purchased a farm near Oklee,
where he lived until he entered Villa St. Vincent
in Crookston. Along with farming, he worked at
American Crystal Sugar Plant in Crookston during
the winters for 25 years.
Francis
was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church,
Knights of Columbus in Crookston, Disabled American
Veterans, McIntosh VFW and a life member of the
American Legion in Crookston. He enjoyed deer
hunting, fishing and traveling.
Survivors
include his children, Francis (Betty) Ayotte of
East Grand Forks, Patricia Stengl of Oslo, Theresa
(Jim) Schmitz of Red Lake Falls, Raymond (Cathy)
Ayotte of Colorado Springs, Colo., Lorraine
(Bernard) Schmitz of Red Lake Falls, Richard
(Phyllis) Martell of Oklee, David Martell of
Crookston, and Kathy (Norman) Brenna of Thief River
Falls; 21 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren;
special friend, Alphinga Mahle of Mentor; brothers,
Daniel (Barb) Martell of Racine, Wisc., and Ben
(Marg) Martell of Ada; sister, Ellen Scully of
Yakima, Wash.; and several nieces and
nephews.
Francis
was preceded in death by his wife, Cecelia; his
parents; a son-in-law, Darrell Stengl; and a
brother-in-law, Robert Scully.
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