Verle Martin

Verle Martin, 91, of Battle Lake, formerly of rural Ashby, died Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center.
Verle was born on November 21, 1925, in Harlan, Iowa the son of Clifford George and Alma (Conrad) Martin of French and English heritage. When he was two years old, the family moved to Manilla, Iowa where he attended grade school at Rabbit Hollow and graduated from Harlan High School in 1943. Verle continued to farm with his family. He also worked at the Armor Packing Plant of Omaha, Nebraska and the Harlan Canning Factory.
On August 16, 1945, he married Rose Lee Dunham at the Baptist Church of Harlan, Iowa. The couple farmed near Harlan until 1951 when they moved to rural Ashby where they farmed until 1995. Verle worked at the Ashby Elevator and did custom corn shelling and clover combining for over 30 years. He retired due to health reason. In October of 1996 he moved to Riverview Heights of Fergus Falls and recently resided at the Good Samaritan Center of Battle Lake.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Ashby, a charter member of the Sportsmen Club of Eagle Lake and served on the Eagle Lake Township Board.
His hobbies include fishing, hunting, trapping, gardening and flowers. Verle also enjoys singing the song “Little Buckaroo” to his family. When life is over, he wants said of him “Close your eyes my little buckaroo.”
Preceding him in death were his wife, Rose; parents, Clifford and Alma; a brother, Melvin; a sister, Elenor Chambers and son-in-law, Marlin Johnson.
His family includes his three children, Marianne (Herman) Rubink of Underwood, Peggy Ruth Martin of Fergus Falls and Clifford Verle (Valerie) of Ashby; five grandchildren, Michelle (John) Ekberg, Troy (Tina) Rubink, Wayne Rubink, Ray Martin and Kenneth (Emily) Martin; 11 great-grandchildren, Jessica, Joshua (Katie), Brandon (Lily), Bradley, Austin, Taylor (Will), Summer, Hunter, Blake, Brinn and Oliver; one great-great grandchild, Payton; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Funeral Services: 10:00 A.M. Friday, July 14, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church, Ashby.
Visitation: one hour prior to the service.
Clergy: Reverend Matthew Zelie
Cemetery: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Ashby
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com