Blaine Francis Martian

Blaine Martian, age 70, of Watertown, SD passed away at his residence on October 7, 2024 under the compassionate care of Prairie Lakes Hospice and family caregivers. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Watertown.  Father John Lantsberger will be the celebrant. Music will be provided by Jane Jaspers as Organist and Holy Name Choir. The family is requested to meet at the church on Friday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. This service will be livestreamed via our website.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday.

Burial will at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Watertown. Urn bearers will be John Larson, Jim Suedkamp, Mark Kasten, Gordy Bertsch, and Dave Adkins.

Blaine Martian was born to Frank and Katherine Martian in Rugby, ND. He grew up in Towner, ND where he attended grade school and graduated from Towner High School, Towner, ND. He married Diane Kanikkeberg in 1976 at Hoff Lutheran Church in Heimdal, ND. They raised three children, Jonathan, Matthew, and Andrew. Blaine was employed at Lincoln Oakes Nursery in Bismarck, ND and was hired in 1978 as executive director/nursery manager for 42 years at the Big Sioux Nursery in Watertown, SD where millions of trees were planted and distributed to conservation districts throughout ND, SD, MN, and other surrounding states. Blaine was elected to the Lake Township board of supervisors on March 6, 2007.

He was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Church and Holy Name choir and sang for numerous funerals and weddings.

Blaine is lovingly missed by his wife Diane, sons, Jonathan of Sioux Falls, Matthew of Watertown, and Andrew (Lindsay) Omaha, NE. Three grandchildren, Isla, Henry, and Liam. Three brothers Daniel (Candace), David (Karla), and Wayne (Patti).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Katherine Martian.

Memorials may be sent to the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Association.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Blaine Francis Martian, please visit our floral store.