Martin Litke, 91

Martin Emanuel Litke, 91, died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004, at the Mountain Home Long-term Care Unit with his daughter, Ila, and grandson, Marty, by his side.

Martin was born Jan. 22, 1913, at Council Grove, Kan. He was the last surving sibling of 15.

Martin was raised in Kansas and in 1937 he moved to Grand View where he met his wife, Charlotte. They were married on April 9, 1938.

In 1935 Martin worked for Joyce Ranch at Sinker Creek where he was given a plow to farm and a job to break horses. In 1939 he took a job, on horseback, as water master for Oreana. In 1941 he took the same job at Murphy Flats. In 1942 Martin and his family returned to Grand View where he irrigated for the Thompsons, Cunninghams, and Hepworths. Then in 1956 Martin's brother convinced him to move to Newport, Ore. He and his family lived there for 20 years where he started out cutting brush for the power company and digging ditch. Charlotte, his wife, picked crabs for a packing plant, and worked as a key punch operator.

Martin then became employed as a Public Works Superintendent for 13 years.

In 1975 Martin returned to Grand View. He was reported to have said, "No matter what job I had, its pretty hard to beat little 'ole' Grand View, Idaho. I always come back."

Even though Martin was 63 and retired, he told George Bennett of Bennett Ranches of Grand View, "I'm getting tired of loafin." So George and Donna Bennett hired him as their irrigator for the next 13 years.

Although Martin held many jobs, his favorite was irrigating and then working with horses. He once said "I fell in love with them horses. I'd stay home any day just to work with a horse. I hate to brag, but, I thought I was pretty good with a team of horses."

During his retirement years, Martin was known for his green thumb, which was evident by his yard full of beautiful roses, his family noted.

Martin is survived by: his three children, sons Bruce (Becky) Haines of Oregon, Jerry (Cindy Rowe) of Baker City, Ore., daughter, Ila (Cecil) Meyers of Grand View; 11 Grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Charlotte, who died in February 2001; fourteen of his brothers and sisters; and his great granddaughter, Heather Meyers, in July 2001.

Memorial contributions made to: Grand View Ambulance c/o Donna Bennett.

Viewing will be held Wednesday Aug. 25, from 5-7 p.m. at Rost Funeral Home, 240 N. 4th East St. in Mountain Home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, at Riverside Cemetery in Grand View.