Obituaries

Mathilda E.A. Martinson

Died April 3, 2014

SUTTONS BAY – Mathilda Emily Anne (Schlueter) Martinson, 98, of Suttons Bay passed away Thursday, April 3, 2014 at Munson Hospice House.

  Millie was born Oct. 22, 1915 on the Schlueter family farm.  She was the daughter of John Henry and Rosa (Hohnke) Schlueter.  On March 24, 1936 at the First Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay she married her loving husband of 62 years, Raymond Wellington Martinson, who preceded her in death on Nov. 25, 1998.  She was still using their treasured heirloom wedding trousseau suite from Schenectady until her passing.

  A true daughter of Leelanau, she was born, raised and spent her entire life in the county.  She was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Good Harbor and was a member of First Lutheran in Suttons Bay and lived a life well lived that spanned the horse and buggy to today’s modern era.

  Millie attended the Martin School on Amore Road during the one room school house era.  As there weren’t enough skis between her and her siblings they would each ski on a single homemade ski down the hills from their farmhouse to attend school.

  A spirited and slightly mischievous young lady, Millie would disassemble and reassemble her parent’s alarm clocks and once when she was 13, Millie and a cohort “borrowed” a relative’s car and drove to Traverse City - teaching herself the rules of the road as she went.  An enterprising young lady she and her sister, Tillie, installed a gas pump at the Schlueter family farm and sold gas to the area farmers. 

  To pursue high school at the newly created Leland Public High School, Millie moved into Leland to live with her grandmother, Otilla (Otto) Hohnke.  In those days girls were required to wear skirts and she often dreaded the cold winter trek from her grandmother’s house on Christmas Tree Corner to school as the winds off of Lake Michigan almost blew her over the bridge. 

  Millie also had the opportunity to meet her grandmother’s good friend and legendary film actress, Carole Lombard.  Carole would often visit them in Leland and they would share stories over coffee and pie.

  This friendship influenced Millie’s love of performing in plays and musicals, oftentimes staged upstairs of the old Morey’s Grocery Store in Suttons Bay.  She also once had the lead role in a play that was so successful that it was moved from Leland to the old Michigan Theater in Traverse City.

  From the day of their marriage until 1974, Millie and Ray were the second generation to operate Leelanau County’s only funeral home and ambulance service, the Martinson Funeral Home.  The 24/7 nature of those two endeavors left little personal freedom, but Millie’s personal touch, compassion, and attention to detail  never wavered when it came to those who entrusted the funeral home with the care of their loved one.

  Her character of hard work and independence was evident well into her golden years.  Millie would be out and about picking up brush, painting, and scolding anyone who tried to assist - all while living independently until this past January.

  Millie was the family grand dame, the Rose Kennedy to our crazy clan, and supreme matriarch.  She was kindness personified, non-judgmental, and a protector and confidante to her grandchildren.  Anything confided to her would stay with her and her alone.  She gave sound counsel to keep her grandchildren safe, especially if anything on the police scanner arose during their alleged “social events.”

  Many in town will remember a very large black Cadillac driven by a little lady who could barely see over the steering wheel.  Even at the age of 95, Millie never turned down a motorcycle ride and loved beach parties.  The family will cherish the wonderful memories made at Millie’s beach house – a house that she and Ray built in 1937 that has been the family bonding site for generations.

   Millie is survived by her three children, Robert (Kumiko) Martinson, Sandra (Ray) Bufka, Cynthia (Eugene) Charest; a sister, Ida Dempsey; seven grandchildren, Chad (Jennifer) Bufka, Beth Charest, Eric (Tina) Charest, Dolly Martinson, Don (Christine) Martinson, Nick (Natasha) Martinson, Ranve Martinson; ten great grandchildren, Naomi Myers, Natalie Myers, Savannah Thompson, Teagan Martinson, Ava Martinson, Noah Charest, Paige Charest, Madison Charest, Shyah Charest and Staley Charest. 

  She was preceded in death by her siblings; Othilda Snohr and Theodore Schlueter; an infant brother, Wilbur H. Schlueter; and a grandson, Todd Bufka.

  Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. with a sharing of memories of Millie at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 14 at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior on Tuesday, April 15 also at the funeral home.  Burial in the Lutheran Cemetery of Suttons Bay will follow.  Reverend Kent R. Lee will officiate.

  The Martinson family extends their deepest appreciation to Bob and Fran of the Toy House Retirement Home of Suttons Bay.  Your genuine care and compassion for our dearest Millie will never be forgotten.

  Memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Cemetery Association, PO Box 206, Suttons Bay, MI, 49682.

  Please share memories with Millie’s family at their online obituary at www.martinson.info.

  Millie is being served by her family, the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.