Marlin 'Spike' Eric Martin, 70

Marlin "Spike" Eric Martin, 70, of Columbia Falls passed away Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, because of heart problems. He was born Nov. 23, 1938, in Glasgow. He was the oldest of five children born to Arnot "Fuzzy" and Mabel (Moen) Martin.

Spike lived in Glasgow until 1950, when the family moved to Columbia Falls and settled in Half Moon. During his high-school years, he worked for Clifford Loftum as a service-station attendant and spent his summers working for Herman Lucke as a backpacker into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Spike graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1957.

After graduation, Spike worked for Stoltze Lumber Company and married Karen Davidson on Nov. 10, 1962. In 1964, he started with the Anaconda Aluminum Company as a brick mason. During this time, he also worked as a part-time police officer and served eight years with the National Guard in Whitefish as a sergeant. Spike retired from the aluminum plant in 1994.

Spike enjoyed working with his hands, and used his skills to build a family home on LaSalle and make many leather and woodworking projects.

Spike is survived by his wife, Karen, of Columbia Falls; his two sons, Eric with wife, Lori, and their sons, Scott and Derek, of Whitefish; and Steve with wife, Shelly, and their children, Austin and Natasha, of Columbia Falls; his sisters, Glenda Price of Fortine, Susan and Chuck Bengston of West Glacier, and Chris and Gene Dose of Denton; one brother, Roger Martin, of Columbia Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the Columbia Mortuary.

Arrangements are with the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.