Obituary - Randall W. "Skate 8" Martin

Randall W. "Skate 8" Martin went home to be with the Lord on July 18, 2018, in Havre at the age of 59.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 27, 2018, at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery with military honors.

Randy's family has suggested that memorial donations be made in Randy's name to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1100 11th Ave., Havre, the VFW Bear Paw Junior Rifle Club, 1022 10th Ave, Havre, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Randy's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com/.

Randy was born on December 29, 1958, in Havre to Marion and Lorine (Clikeman) Martin. He was raised in Havre, graduating from Havre High School in 1977. He began working for BNSF in 1978. In 1980, he joined the U.S. Army, and trained to become a mortician in the world's largest mortuary in Frankfurt, Germany. Upon his honorable discharge, Randy returned to Havre and resumed working for BNSF until he was forced to take medical leave in April 2017.

Randy was asked to join the VFW Honor Guard in the 1990s. A few years later, he began serving as Joint Commander, and later assumed the role of Commander. As a youth, Randy was a member of the Junior Rifle Club. After his return from the Army, he realized that the boys were no longer meeting, and along with his former instructor and friend Cal Burr, worked to combine the Havre Girls and VFW Boys Junior Rifle Clubs. Together, they taught countless children the skills and safety rules necessary to handle firearms and achieve NRA rankings. After Cal retired, Randy's wife, Laura, joined him and together they helped support the trap club in their activities to sustain the Junior Rifle Club. Randy loved working with the kids just as he did when he co-owned Russ Dee's Roller Rink, which he bought into in 1977.

He was an artisan who employed his skills in welding, foundry, jewelry making, glass etching and shooting. He loved to spend his time with his family at Fresno and in the Bear Paws. His cat Smokey was his constant companion for many years. Randy was a wonderful family man, who lived his faith every day. He prayed constantly in all situations for his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Lorine Martin; and his brothers James and Robert Martin.

Randy is survived by his wife, Laura Martin of Havre; children, Nick (Iris) and Nolan Martin, all of Seattle, Clarissa (Derrick Hucke) Martin of Havre and Jackie Martin of Bozeman; siblings Rick (Jeanne) Martin of Havre, and Dr. Paula Martin of Dickinson, ND; and nephews Damien and Sky Martin.

If you are unable to attend the service, please join us for a live streaming of Randy's service at http://stream.vision.net/stpaul-zion/.