Valire Philip Martinson was born to Philip and Marie (Hermanson) Martinson on June 15, 1917 in Alliance Township, Moody County, S.D. Valire passed away on February 5 with funeral services held on February 10. On-line condolences may be left at the Hartquist Funeral Home website.

He was raised on the family farm near Jasper where he attended country school and later Jasper High School. After his graduation from high school he farmed with his family.

On March 16, 1946 he married Alvera Pollock at the Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Following their marriage they resided and farmed on the family farm in Moody County. He farmed there until his retirement in 1978.

He was a member of the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was baptized on July 8, 1917 and confirmed on May 24, 1931 at Bethania Lutheran Church in Moody County. He was a member of the Jasper Rural Fire Board where he served as the treasurer. He was also a member of the Jasper School Board. Although Valire wasn’t a veteran himself, all three of his siblings served our nation and he supported them and thought greatly of their service; for that reason, he was a member of the American Legion in Jasper.

He is survived by his wife, Alvera “Polly” Martinson, Jasper; his children, Bruce (Portia) Martinson, Jasper, Rene Wade, Sioux Falls, S.D., Coleen (Tom) Bryan, Battle Lake, Jean (John) Jackson, Canton, Mich., Karen (Barry) Jenson, Hastings, Sheri (Mike) Swenson, Jasper and David (Diane) Martinson, Jasper; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; his sister, Marilyn (Melvin) Graber, Freeman, S.D. and sister-in-law, Marie Martinson, Dell Rapids, S.D.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Eugene and DeWane and his son-in-law, Larry Wade.