Mildred Ruth Martin was born on April 12, 1925, the eldest child of Orville and Thelma (Young) Claytor, at her grandparent’s home in Greentop, MO. She was born on Easter Sunday. Her father thought she should be called “Easter Ann”. Fortunately, her mother prevailed and she was baptized Mildred Ruth. In January 1929 her sister Barbara Joan was born. Orville was a school teacher and the family lived in Bethany MO. With the Depression affecting all Americans, the family suffered the loss of Orville in 1937. As a result Mildred, Thelma, and Joan moved into the grandparents’ home in Greentop.
In 1940 Thelma Claytor married Earl Salsbury of Fairview. Mildred and the family arrived by train with what they could carry. Initially they lived in the Hotel Albert prior to moving onto the Salsbury Ranch in the hills west of town. Winters were spent in Fairview so the girls could go to school. The other students teased “Milly” because of her southern accent. However, the hardest part was trying to herd the sheep. She tried to get on a bareback horse and promptly fell off the other side. Regrettably she refused to ever try again.
Without the move to Fairview, Milly wouldn’t have met the love of her life Marion Martin. They met at a dance hall called Dream Land. Milly told her sister Joan that “I will marry Marion one day”, but Milly was still in high school and Marion was drafted. He did not get home until 1946. He proposed immediately. The two had to wait until Milly’s mom saved up enough sugar rations to make a small wedding cake. Milly and Marion were married on March 24, 1946 at the Baptist Church in Sidney. The youngest person at the wedding was Milly’s three year old sister Linda Salsbury.
In 1951 Milly and Marion purchased a farm outside of Fairview. Marion built the farm house where he and Milly lived and raised their family. They had three children: Mariann was born in 1952, followed by Terry in 1958 and Patti in 1959.
All Milly had ever wanted was to be was a wife and mother. Nothing made her happier than taking care of her family. She was a marvelous cook and catered to her family’s desires. Special meals were prepared for birthdays, anniversaries and homecomings. As a farm wife she had many responsibilities such as a large vegetable garden, canning, making jams and jellies, raising chickens, and yard work. She also separated the milk and sold cream to a dairy. She saved all the money and paid for the in house full bathroom. In the 1960s she began driving beet truck for Marion. She so enjoyed working alongside Marion and helping out in a new way.
Milly had a natural ability to harmonize with anybody. Her mother and sister Joan were also gifted and the three made beautiful music together. Her musical instrument of choice was the harmonica. She and Marion played together around the house for family and friends. She was still playing for the residents at the Sidney Extended Care until shortly before her death.
To say that Milly loved babies is an understatement. She loved all the children in the extended families. Each and every one was precious. She was known to walk up to complete strangers and talk about their baby! In 1991 Milly was overjoyed to become a Grandmother to Hanna Lewis and later added the title of Great-Grandmother when Amber Jean Brown and William “Scotty” Urban arrived. Milly loved them so much and did what every grandmother does; she spoiled them rotten and they loved her so very dearly.
She loved and attended the flower beds around the house and yard. She had a rock garden consisting of rocks she and Marion found, lots of flowers and antique farm items. Milly always had a strawberry patch and everyone got roped in to help her pick them.
Mildred was a devote Christian. She and Marion officially joined the Fairview Presbyterian Community Church in 1959. As a member she taught Sunday school, Bible school, sang in the choir and was a member of the Ladies Circle. She lived each day with the Lord in her heart and His teachings guiding her behavior.
In 1981 Marion retired and the two became “snowbirds” wintering in Apache Junction, AZ. They made many new and special friends. Milly joined the Road Haven Resort church choir. She learned to crochet and began making afghans for everyone. Milly just had to keep busy and crocheting allowed her something to do while Marion drove. Milly and Marion took their motor home to Alaska three times to visit his sister’s family. They enjoyed fishing for salmon and halibut. For Marion’s 80th birthday they traveled to Australia and New Zealand. This showed Milly’s deep love for Marion as she was afraid of heights and airplanes! She was a trooper for three weeks and 13 airplane rides! Milly kept active by walking a mile or so every day. She and Marion attended the weekly Road Haven dances. She took every arts and craft class she could. The family received many handmade presents over the years. In the summers Milly and Marion would go fishing with friends in northern Canada. They enjoyed hiking around the hills near Fairview searching for agates. And, of course, she kept all the flower beds beautiful for the family’s enjoyment. She now had Amber’s help picking strawberries and weeding the flower beds.
Milly and Marion were married for 68 years. They were inseparable best friends who loved each other so very much. We never heard a cross word pass between them. They were a team and shared life’s joys and burdens as one.
Milly died on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care Facility in the presence of her daughter Mariann. We will miss her so very much. While she was with us, we made special memories that will sustain us in the days ahead and live in our hearts and minds forever.
Milly is survived by her daughters Mariann Martin, Billings MT, and Patti Dietrich, Fairview MT; granddaughter Hanna (Will) Urban, Fairview MT; great-grandchildren Amber Jean Brown and Scotty Urban; sister, Linda Salsbury Leininger, Binford ND; brother-in-law, Rex Erps, Parker AK; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Milly was proceeded in death by her husband, Marion Martin; son, Terry Martin; her parents, Orville Claytor and Thelma Salsbury; sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Ray Smith; brother-in-law, John Leininger; sons-in-law, Brad Lewis and Randy Dietrich; sisters and brothers-in-law, Frank and Agnes Martin, Nig and Glady Martin, and Marge Erps; and very special friends Pat and Louie Stepan.