Gerald Martinson

Gerald Martinson, 79, of Northwood, ND, passed away Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. A memorial service will be held Friday, February 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Harvest Baptist Church in Larimore, ND. A visitation and lunch will be held following the service at the church. A celebration of life will be held at The Rail Bar and Grill in Northwood, ND starting at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Northwood American Legion, P.O. Box 412, Northwood, ND 58267.

Gerald Noel Martinson was born on December 16, 1946, in Grand Forks County, North Dakota to Medvin and Viola Martinson. Known as Jerry, he was the oldest of three brothers.

Jerry grew up in Logan Center. He went to school in Grand Forks, Kempton, and Hatton for his elementary and junior high years. Jerry went to Northwood Public School for high school where he graduated in 1964.

Jerry went to mechanic’s school in Fargo and worked in the Carrington area. Knowing he would be drafted into the Armed Forces, Jerry volunteered and enlisted in the Army for two years. He did his training in El Paso, Texas before shipping out to Vietnam where he served as a truck mechanic.

Jerry met his wife, Judi Becker, when he came home from the Army and she was home on a college break in December 1968. In a whirlwind courtship, Jerry and Judi were married on August 20, 1970. Jerry and Judi moved to Springfield, Missouri where they finished college before moving back to Northwood, ND to raise a family of 5 children.

Jerry worked on the family farm with his dad Medvin, and youngest brother Tom until 1985 when they sold the farm. Jerry switched to sales for 2 years before learning how to drive truck with Mike Camperud. Jerry also drove truck for Mike Adams, Dennis Gabriel, Randy Lacher and TransSystems. He stayed in trucking profession for the remainder of his working years.

Jerry liked to spend time with family, going fishing, reading books and his Bible, and spoiling his grandkids with their very first glass of Coke, sleep-overs, and doing projects together on the farm. His favorite things to do in the summer was to sit out on the swing watching grandkids play, petting his cats, catching fish and telling stories about everything.

Jerry is survived by his wife Judi (Becker) Martinson, daughters Amy (Larry) Cronin and their two daughters Riley and Hailey, Lisa Martinson, and Rachel (Kevin) Anderson and their two daughters Mykaela and Mykenzie and son, Brian (Rachel) Martinson and their children Octavia, Michael, and Spencer. Jerry has nieces and nephews from his brother Richard (Denise) Martinson that reside in Texas and his cousin Bonnie (Rob) Fairchild who resides in Yakima, Washington.

He joins family members that have passed to include his parents Medvin and Viola (Lovejoy) Martinson, a son, Nathan Martinson, Jerry’s brothers Richard Martinson and Thomas Martinson, and in-laws Robert and Lucille Becker and Mark Becker, brother-in-law.