Alwyn Markham Martinson

Alwyn Markham Martinson, 100, passed away at Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge, Minnesota, on September 23, 2026.

Alwyn was born on the family farm west of Rothsay, Minnesota, on July 28, 1926, to Hilmer and Ellen (Klengson) Martinson. When he was ten years old, the family moved to a farm east of Breckenridge, Minnesota. He went to country school for eight years, then three years of high school in Breckenridge.

When he was seventeen, he enlisted in the Navy for four years. He went to boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, and radio school at the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he earned enough credits to receive his high school diploma. He served on a troop ship in the Pacific theater, taking part in the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He received an honorable discharge on July 28, 1947.

After leaving the Navy, Alwyn went south combining with his brothers for three years. He married Marilyn Lankow on December 17, 1950. They farmed near Ashby and Breckenridge before moving to a farm near Vergas in 1962. In 2003 they sold the farm and moved into Vergas.

He is survived by his children Dennis (Rain) Martinson; David Martinson; Donna (Lynn) Mineer; Mary Lou Schmit; son-in-law Philip Stratton; grandchildren Brook Martinson-Halls; Marcus Zitzow and Tracy (Peter) Young; Adam and Landon (Katy) Schmit; Jared (Megan) Kahle; great-grandchildren Noah and Laura Young; Elodie and Otto Kahle; brothers Gordon (Artis) Martinson and Donald Martinson; sisters Virginia Lankow and Janice Michels; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; son-in-law, Gary Schmit; daughter, Carol; grandson, Theodore Kahle; brothers, Oline, Ellsworth and Conrad; sisters Miriam Shelstad and Loraine Lankow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Vergas Veterans Memorial, or the Veterans Crisis Line.