Dorothy Martens

Dorothy Martens, age 75, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at The Meadows in Swift Current, SK. Dorothy Elaine Martens was born on December 10, 1948 in Moose Jaw, SK to Eugene & Lydia Martens. Her Dad was attending Briercrest College and Seminary in Caronport at the time. Dorothy grew up on the family ranch northeast of Swift Current with her 5 siblings, attending Leonard, Leinan, and Stewart Valley schools, and graduating from Grade 12 at Beatty Collegiate. Travelling to school was often an adventure, using the various methods of horseback, bobsleigh, tractor, and finally a bus driven by her brother, Harold, who was in Grade 11. After Grade 12, Dorothy attended Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, SK for one year and then moved to Regina for a 2-year nursing program at the Regina General Hospital, where she graduated in 1970. She began working as a nurse in Moose Jaw, SK before moving back home to work in the Swift Current Union Hospital. After several years she decided to go to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and she graduated with that degree in 1976. From there she was stationed in the remote community of Cumberland House, SK where she lived in an apartment attached to the clinic and was the only medical person in the area. Dorothy flew in and out to Pine House, SK as well to supply medical care. During her time in Cumberland House, she went through a difficult personal time when a man, who was never apprehended, broke into her apartment. She was assaulted and held at knife point. Somehow, she managed to escape but after that she acquired a retired police dog named Tanya, who was her constant companion and guarded her faithfully over the next few years. Dorothy’s experience only seemed to make her stronger and more determined to continue her path of helping and caring for others. Her compassion for those who went through traumatic events was influenced by her own life experiences. She accepted a position in LaRonge, SK where she eventually became the Director of Northern Health Services for Saskatchewan. She flew into many remote northern areas and that supplied her with even more interesting traveling adventures. In 1981, while she was in LaRonge she decided to adopt a baby that she named Matthew David, whom she loved and cherished for six rewarding months. Just before the adoption was finalized, the birth mother changed her mind. It was one of Dorothy’s greatest regrets. Eventually she moved to Regina, SK where she was a nursing and health care executive for the Ministry of Health and then a director and consultant for Regina City Public Health. It was during this time, in 1991, that she decided to make a career change and go to the MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California where she got her Master’s in counselling. While she lived in Fresno, she trained in some of the worst areas of the city often among the homeless. Even where she lived it was not unusual to hear gun shots outside. But she never seemed afraid of anything. Upon graduation in 1993, she accepted an invitation to become the Associate Pastor of Family Ministries, working primarily in pastoral care and counseling, at Sardis Community Church in Chilliwack, BC, a somewhat groundbreaking role. This was ultimately her favorite and most full-filling career. A special highlight was a study trip to Brazil and Bolivia in 1996. Dorothy had been diagnosed with lupus in 1977, and while she was in Chilliwack she was diagnosed with severe arthritis as well. She soon knew that she would not be able to keep working and made the decision to move back to Swift Current in May of 2007 to be near family, in case she needed extra care as the disease became more disabling. Family was always so important to her, and she valued visits with them as she reestablished those relationships. With determination, Dorothy was able to continue with hobbies that gave her great satisfaction. Even as her hands became crippled, she made needlework Christmas stockings for each descendant in her large extended family. Her needlework projects had a room of their own in her new home and she continued to create beautiful things despite her limitations. She was an avid reader of every type of book, especially Science Fiction. She collected beautiful leather-bound books which she treasured. But her favorite books were her Bibles and biblical studies. She never tired of learning, and her faith and her sense of humor remained strong despite all she had experienced. Dorothy trusted God to see her through whatever happened and prayed for her family faithfully. She loved to talk about a variety of things and was very knowledgeable. One of her favorite subjects was baseball, and she was a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays. She could list all kinds of baseball statistics, especially of her favorite players, and she always said one of her dreams had been to go to spring training camp. In February of 2023 she experienced a traumatic series of events in hospital as her body fought infection and pain and paralysis. But she was a resilient fighter to the end. Dorothy is survived by her siblings and their spouses, Gordon (Maureen) Martens, Ruth Martens, Julie (Curt) Chickoski; a cousin, Dorothy (Richard) Weetman; a sister in-law, Sylvia Martens; and numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her parents, Eugene & Lydia Martens; a sister, Marina Bergen; a brother, Harold Martens; and by in-laws, John Bergen and Sonya Martens. Dorothy’s family would like to thank the staff and medical teams for the care she received in various locations over the past year and a half, for those who visited and prayed for her, and sent messages of hope and encouragement. Many of those messages were from people she had contact with over the years in her many roles of service to others. Those kindnesses helped to brighten her days.

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