Harold Hal Andrew Martenson

Harold Andrew Martenson was born to Parents Nels and Euphemia (Hallgren) Martenson in Portland Oregon. Third child and brother to Frank and Gertrude, Hal grew up in northeast Portland. After graduating from Highland Grade School in Portland, Oregon. Hal entered Jefferson High School where he excelled in basketball and baseball, lettering 2 years in basketball and 4 years in baseball, and made All City teams in both sports.

After graduating in June 1941 he received a letter from the Cinncinnati Reds Baseball Club requesting he attend their Marysville, Calif. baseball tryouts and camp in Sept. 1941. He decided to play basketball and baseball at Oregon State College (now known as Oregon State University). However, after one year of college World War II broke out and with a letter of recommendation from Mr. Slats Gill (Gill Coliseum) the head basketball coach at OSU he was accepted into the US Navy in September 1942. He served 4 years on the USS Hornet in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in March 1946

Returning from World War II as a Navy veteran, he continued his education at Oregon State College. He then met and won over a young widow, Dorothy “Dot” Lucas with his happy, gentle demeanor. Dorothy had a young daughter, Wendy. Hal and Dot were married in Portland on January 16, 1949. Following their marriage, they purchased and moved into a large, old former parsonage in the Mt. Tabor area with stepdaughter, Wendy. Hal soon became the very proud father of two sons, Jim in 1950 and Greg in 1951.

After the war, Hal continued to play semi-professional baseball at Vaughn Street Park.

A note from Hal’s son Greg: A few years ago while Hal was still mobile I took Hal to McMenamin’s Tavern and Pool , which is around where Vaughn Street Park was located where the Vaughn Street Old-Timers met for breakfast. Vince Pesky who played ball at Lincoln High School with his brother Johnny of the Boston Red Sox told me my dad was the best third baseman he ever saw play, other than Brooks Robinson!

Hal worked for Northwest Grocers, Hyster and Industrial Air and was a member of the Teamsters Union, achieving safe driver awards. Of course, if you asked Hal what kind of work he did, he would quip “as little as possible.”

A naturally sociable and easy-going fellow, Hal was well liked by neighbors, co-workers and his sports buddies. Hall was a life-long sports enthusiast and he will be remembered for his wonderful droll sense of humor.

Hal and Dot’s interests brought them together with Mt. Tabor neighbors and friends for cards. He devoted a lot of time to his sons and their friends Belmont Little League teams as coach, and then followed the boys to Washington High School where he coached Babe Ruth. Camping and fishing were great family times. They enjoyed the Mt. Hood area where they eventually purchased property and today stands Dot’s dream house! Entries in his high school yearbook affectionately refer to him as “Musty” Martenson and “Horrible Hal, everybody’s pal.” As they renovated their home, it became a good setting for wedding and anniversary parties and family gatherings. Once the children were grown, Hal and Dot moved to a more modern, single-level house in Tualatin, where they enjoyed activities at the community Senior Center in their retirement. In recent years Hal became a favorite of his caregivers at Linden Care Manor in Gresham. Under his tough exterior beat a gentle heart. His family and friends will never forget him.

Even in your passing you continue to give. You have brought a lot of family and friends together who may have drifted apart over the years for a celebration of your life. A part of you will live with all of us for the rest of our lives, and we thank you for that. You were loved and will never be forgotten! May you rest in peace.

Hal is predeceased by his loving wife, Dorothy May Martenson; brother, Frank Martenson; sister, Gertrude Hahn.

Survived by his sons, James Martenson of Wemme, Oregon; Greg Martenson of Portland, Oregon; and stepdaughter, Wendy Lucas-Meyer of San Diego, California; grandchildren: Leslie Jackman-Guerena of Tualatin, Oregon; and Chris Jackman of Pine Mountain Club, California. great-grandchildren: Jenna Jackman and Steven Jackman of Pine Mountain Club, California; and Annika Guerena and Nikolas Guerena of Tualatin, Oregon.

A funeral service will be held to celebrate Hal’s life on Friday, February 28th, 2014, at 11am, at Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, Oregon.