St. Cloud Times: Central Minnesota Obituaries - Tuesday, March 19, 2002

Lawrence R. Martens 89 Sauk Rapids Mar. 17, 2002

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Thursday at Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids for Lawrence R. Martens, 89, of 80 N. 4th St., who died Sunday at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids. Burial will be in Benton Cemetery in Sauk Rapids. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to the services Thursday at the funeral home in Sauk Rapids. Sauk Rapids American Legion Post #254 will pray at 6:30 Wednesday at the funeral home in Sauk Rapids.

Lawrence was born July 1, 1912 in Sauk Rapids to Henry and Martha (Gustman) Martens. He served his country in the United States Army during WWII. He trained dogs during war time for the Army, and after being discharged continued to train dogs. He owned and operated Martens Better Dog Ration and Martens Kennels for many years. Lawrence was the founding father of the Central Minnesota Retrievers Club. He was also a member of the Sauk Rapids American Legion, Sauk Rapids Lions Club, National Retrievers Club, and the Hennepin County Retrievers Club. Lawrence was recognized throughout the US and Canada as being one of the best in the dog training business.

He is survived by his sister, Dorothea VanBorgart of DePere, WI, nieces and nephews, Jim and Pam VanBogart, Mary Ann and Roger Boersma, Joan Quigley, Marge and Jim Verhaagh, Norb VanBogart, and John VanBogart all of DePere, WI; Bob and Wanda VanBogart of Seattle, WA; great nieces and nephews, Joe VanBogart, Kim & Gary Hagerstrom both of DePere, WI, Kathleen Meason of Chicago, IL.