Arlean Martin

Velva

Arlean Adeline Martin, 91, formerly of Kief, North Dakota, passed away on April 1, 2026, at Valley View Manor Assisted Living, Velva, North Dakota. A woman of deep faith, boundless warmth, and quiet strength, Arlean lived a life rich in love, hard work, and devotion to her family. Funeral Service will be at United Community Baptist Church of Anamoose, ND, on Wednesday April 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be 12:30PM-2:00 PM prior to the funeral. Burial will be in rural Drake at Rosenfeld Baptist Cemetery. Luncheon following funeral service will be at the VFW in Anamoose. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Arlean Martin to Valley View Manor, CHI Hospice, Rosenfeld Baptist Cemetery, or Camp Bentley.

Arlean was born March 12, 1935, in rural Kief, ND to Emil & Bertha (Hess) Knodel. She grew up in the small community of Kief that she would call home for most of her life. She was the first of four kids and born during the depression, so she learned quickly about hard times, hard work, and responsibility. She attended country grade school in Strassburg Township and high school in Kief. She married Bennie Martin on November 23, 1952, at the Rosenfeld Baptist Church, rural Drake, ND. From that point on she was always proud to be known as ‘Mrs. Bennie Martin’. Bennie and Arlean called their farm southeast of Kief home, where they were blessed with three children, Jean, Curtis, and Julie.

On the farm, Arlean was so much more than a homemaker. She was Bennie’s right hand in their grain farming operation. They also milked cows, raised chickens and geese, and later switched to raising beef cows. Arlean took tremendous pride in her garden and was especially proud of her canning and homemade buns. In her free time, she enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and being outdoors. Everyone was welcome at her table, and nobody left the yard without something to eat and lots of visiting. Bennie and Arlean loved to visit and were always known to still be at events after they were over chatting away! Friends or strangers, they would visit with anyone, a trait that has been passed down their family tree. Arlean would also call and talk for hours with family and friends on a daily basis. Bennie and Arlean were both members of the Sheridan County German Singers and loved listening to music too.

Arlean was very proud of her growing family and loved spending time with them whenever she could. She found great joy attending her grandkids’ events while they were growing up and later loved her great grandkids’ smiling faces visiting her. Arlean made many trips to Pennsylvania to visit Jean and her family, with many month-long visits in the winter. Arlean especially loved family reunions on both her and Bennie’s side, with her last one being attended in the summer of 2025. She enjoyed traveling with two memorable trips being a group trip to Romania to see where her ancestors immigrated from and a group cruise to Alaska.

A lifelong and devoted Christian, Arlean was a faithful member of Rosenfeld Baptist Church until it’s closing and then United Community Baptist Church. She was very active in the women’s missionary fellowship, Sunday school, being the church clerk, being a mentor for the Awana kids, and Bible school teacher. Arlean was a member of the Gideons International Auxiliary where her faith was the foundation of her life, guiding her through every season of life.

After Bennie died in 2006, Arlean continued to live on the farm until October 2021 when she moved to the Valley View Manor Assisted Living in Velva. Here she continued to be involved in their activities, make friends with both neighbors and staff, and enjoy her hallway walks every day.

Arlean is survived by her daughters, Jean (Scott) Hagen, Hatfield, PA, Julie (Gary) Kohler, Benedict, ND; grandchildren, Mark (Theresa) Romani, Coopersburg, PA, Jee Ea Gay (Eh Kmwee Paw), Sellersville, PA,

Trevor (Aaron) Kohler, Benedict, ND, Ashley (Tim) Rath, Wishek, ND, Marcie (Michael) Krueger, Garrison, ND; great grandchildren, Valkyrie Paw, Briggs Kohler, Morgan and Teegan Rath, Parker and Paxton Krueger; brother, Gary (Arlinda) Knodel, Caldwell, ID; sister in law, Jeanette Martin, Chaska, MN; many nieces and nephews.

She now rests in the loving arms of her Savior, reunited with her beloved husband, Bennie, who preceded her in death. Along with her parents; father and mother in law, John (Sophia) Martin; son, Curtis Martin; son in law, Joe Romani; sisters and brother in laws, Shirley (Sam) Dessenko, Marlys (Alvin) Erickson; brother in laws and sister in laws, Albert Martin, Edwin (Margaret) Martin, Freda (Ben) Rauser, Alfred Martin, Jonathan (Sally) Martin.

Arlean’s life was a beautiful testament to faith and family. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Arlean’s family extends a special thanks and deep gratitude to the staff at Valley View Manor and CHI Hospice in the exceptional care, kindness, and compassion given to our mother and grandmother who they treated like their own.

Arrangements are pending with the Bethke-Nelson Funeral Home of Drake, ND. Online condolences may be left at www.nelsonfuneralhomesnd.com.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 4, 2026.