Hattie Ula Brown Martin

Hattie Ula Brown Martin died Oct. 11, 2015. Hattie was the fifth child of John and Hattie (McGirt) Brown, born in Zachary, La., on Dec. 30, 1916. She was raised in rural Louisiana, not too far from Baton Rouge. Twice her life was saved as a child: first was when her sister Net pulled her off the railroad tracks in front of the house as a train was coming; and second when a friend's mother pulled her out of a bayou. After high school, with $25 from her father, she was off to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans to become a nurse. Then off she went to the University of Washington in Seattle for training as a public health nurse. As a single, working woman at the beginning of World War II, she met a soldier from Billings - (Robert H.) Bob Martin. At first, she was NOT impressed. They married on Feb. 18, 1942, before Bob's unit was shipped to New Guinea in the South Pacific. He had a number of illnesses (malaria, jungle rot, etc.) during World War II and was sent to a hospital in Texas, so she returned to Louisiana, where they planned to live. However, they did return to Montana, where their four children were born and raised. She was married to Bob for 56 years until his death in 1998. Hattie was a wonderful, caring nurse. She firmly believed in vaccinations - her kids claimed they always got the needles just before they were sent to be sharpened (no disposable needles back then). Of her four children, Joyce, Kay, Chad and John, she said: "You kids never caused a moment's concern" - just her forgiving memory. In 1970, Hattie received her B.S. in nursing from Montana State University in Bozeman at the time her own children were in college. Education was always very important to her. In 1957, Hattie began working as a school nurse for the Yellowstone County Public Health Department, eventually working her way up to supervisor of the nurses. After leaving the Health Department, she became Director of the local Red Cross. She was one of the "Prime Movers" in establishing the Council on Aging (now Adult Resource Alliance). Some of her other volunteer work included: working to raise funds and knowledge to help eradicate TB in the U.S., being a Girl Scout troop leader, being active in her downtown church - First United Methodist. One of her great volunteer loves was decorating the Zonta Club tree for Festival of Trees. Hettie loved to travel. She and Bob took several freighter trips, spent 22 winters in Hawaii and vacationed in many parts of the United States. They also spent much enjoyable family time with their boat, "The Lame Duck," on Canyon Ferry Reservoir near Helena. Hattie has always delighted in her family. After Bob's death, she remodeled the upstairs of her house so she could house four of her seven grandchildren, her son and her daughter-in-law. They formed one happy family. She spent the last 10 years with St. John's Lutheran Ministries. For several years, she spent each weekday at Senior Day Services, which allowed her to remain living at home. The last few years, she lived at Hansen Cottage. Our family expresses a deep gratitude to St. John's and its caring staff, who made Hattie's last years happy. Hattie was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her son-in-law, Larry Jensen; three sisters and four brothers, plus twins who died right after birth. She is survived by four children and seven grandchildren: Joyce Jenson of Billings; Kay (Mike) Duffield of Missoula, grandsons Scot (Jill) Duffield of Colorado and Jack Duffield of Idaho; Chad (Fusako) Martin of Billings, grandsons Dansun, Joseph (Camille) of Idaho, Lee and Robert Martin; John (Vandy) Martin of Boise, Idaho, granddaughter Emma Martin; and three great-grandchildren, Aaron Duffield, Eleanor and Miles Martin. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at First United Methodist Church, 2800 Fourth Ave. N. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Ministries, Adult Resource Alliance or charity of your choice.