MARTENS, 1922 - 2006 Mr. Bernard David 'Ben' Martens of Red Deer, passed away at the Red Deer Nursing Home on Friday, December 15, 2006 at the age of 84 years. Ben was born on February 11, 1922 to Isaac and Katherina Martens (nee Dyck) at Hague, Saskatchewan. He grew up in the Ryneland Area, and after finishing his grade nine, he worked in his dad's Blacksmith Shop, building discers, which were sold to farmers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. In his teens, dad took catechism classes, which were a prerequisite to becoming a member of the church, and he must have been very determined because he said if he wasn't able to hitch a ride, he would walk twelve miles into the city and then back home again. In 1940, he was baptized in the first Mennonite Church, but it wasn't until 1950, after dad and mom were already married, that dad, along, with mom, invited Jesus into his heart, as his personal Lord and Savior, at a Jantz team Evangelistic tent meeting. Dad married our mom, Linda Penner on June 14, 1942 at the Warman M.B. Church, a few miles north of Saskatoon and have been married for sixty-four plus years. Twelve children were born to them, six girls and six boys. Dad worked hard at many different jobs - whatever he could find to support his family. He drove city truck in Saskatoon for eight years, he drove taxi, did tree and shrub maintenance with Larry and Ken, his two oldest sons, which probably inspired Larry to make landscaping his life's occupation. Later dad learned the trade of Glasier, which is fitting glass into windows. In 1967, dad and mom moved to Calgary and dad installed glass at Canadian Pittsburgh. He said one interesting job was installing glass at the Husky Tower. Then he worked for the Calgary School Board for about ten years also installing windows. Finally he had his own glass business 'Expert Glass' for eight years. Dad's physical health failed in the past few years, but we saw his relationship with his Lord deepen, and he had a real concern for the spiritual welfare of his children and grandchildren. He told us more than once that his prayer in his dying breath would be that they would all be saved. Dad is survived by his loving wife, Linda Martens, daughters, Emma (Garry) Schierling of Texas, United States, Judy (Ted) Dyck of Lanigan, Saskatchewan, Laura Moodie of Kelowna, British Columbia, Dorothy (Len) Pennington of Red Deer, Darlene (Ken) Friesen of Calgary, Alberta, sons, Larry Martens of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Ken (Betty) Martens of Coquitlam, British Columbia, Ernie (Autumn) Martens of Red Deer and Bob (Leslie) Martens of Nanaimo, British Columbia, thirty-one grandchildren and twenty-eight great grandchildren. Dad was predeceased by his parents, Isaac and Katherina Martens, four brothers, four sisters, an infant son, Timmy, a daughter, Shirley in 1999 and a son, Ron in 2002. All are welcome to come and pay their respects at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820 - 45th Street, Red Deer, Alberta on Tuesday evening between the hours of 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. A Public Funeral Service will be held at Eventide Funeral Chapel, Red Deer, Alberta on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at the Alto-Reste Cemetery, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences may be forwarded to the family at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com Service and Interment Providers: EVENTIDE FUNERAL CHAPELS 4820 - 45th Street, Red Deer. Phone 347-2222. "DOWNTOWN RED DEER"