Kim Martinson

Our Lord gave us a special gift with the passing of our dear wife, mom, nana, sister, daughter, and friend, Kim Martinson, on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024. Shortly before she passed, she gestured that she wanted to pray the rosary, and she stayed with us, staring at us with love in her eyes through it all. Not a minute later, she passed peacefully with her family surrounding her.

Kim was born on March 15, 1959, in Plattsburgh, New York to Shirley (Lafontaine) and Maurice Chevalier. She grew up in Champlain, New York and had an idyllic small town childhood. She spent a short time in Devon, England, and though brief, she remembered her time there fondly. She returned to New York with her mother and brother, and graduated from Northeastern Clinton High School in 1977. She loved watching her younger brother, Jimmy, play hockey, and kept in touch with many of her friends through the rest of her life. Kim knew how hard her mother worked and how much she sacrificed for her and her brother. Kim loved doing small things to repay her mom, like rearranging the furniture so she would have a surprise to come home to after work. Her mother met Jim Lafontaine when Kim was a teenager, and she was so happy her mother found such a wonderful man to take care of her.

After graduating, she packed up and drove across country to live in California. It was around this time, that her faith was truly awakened, and she saw the Lord was calling her to more in life. She graduated from Long Beach State, and applied her education in unique ways, always having a soft spot for those most in need. She was never afraid to be in challenging situations where there was an opportunity to show God's love.

Through a series of events and connections, she began attending a Bible study, where she met the great love of her life, Mike Martinson. She recalled that at first sight, she thought he was attractive but too competitive, as she watched him huff and puff to win a potato sack race. They drew each other's names for prayer partners, and started a friendship that would continue over the next years despite living on opposite sides of the country and despite each pursuing different callings. They eventually married at St. Joseph Church in Hawthorne, California on March 22, 1986.

Kim and Mike lived in Hermosa and Redondo Beach where they welcomed their first daughter Michaela. They later lived in Lakewood and welcomed their second daughter, Danielle. They quickly decided they wanted a slower pace of life for their young family, and moved to Billings, Montana in 1990. Mike began teaching for the Billings Catholic Schools, and Kim began what would be a lifelong remodel of their home. Together, they agreed Kim would stay home with their children as they grew up. This decision did not come without incredible sacrifice, but God always provided. Luckily, Kim's love for thrift shopping and garage saleing helped them find everything they needed.

It was in Billings that they had their two sons, Christian and Michael, who completed their family and and kept them on their toes in a whole new way, as boys tend to do. In 1993, Kim and Mike opened Emmaus Road Catholic Bookstore. To her final days, she was reluctant to hand over any of her responsibilities, and would tell us of her big plans for the future. This small store brought her so much happiness, and the people she would encounter reminded her daily of God's great power. She loved the peace she felt being there, and it was one of her true purposes in life.

One day, someone suggested to her that Billings needed a Catholic radio station. She brought the idea home to Mike, and after three years and a great deal of perseverance, Billings Catholic Radio was on the air. She was so proud of the impression it made on those who listened. Her car radio was faithfully on 97.5FM for the rest of her life, “change your station, change your life.”

Her greatest joy in life was being with her family. As a wife and mother, her life was not her own, and she put the love for her family above all else. When you'd ask her what she wanted to do for any occasion, she would always answer, “I don't care, as long as we're together.” Her door was always open, she was always in one of the same few spots with an excited smile on her face, as if she knew you were coming. Together was her favorite place to be, and it was ours too. Her love was freely given, and we loved her back more than words.

She was especially thankful for her husband, Mike. He was her “rock” through everything. She would always tell us how much she leaned on him, and he was the best teammate she could ever ask for. They say in a marriage the two became one, and this was written on their wedding bands. Through this journey, they truly felt this, and went through each step together. Though they had very different interests, they were one in the most important thing, their faith. We could not ask for a better example of unconditional love than the love of these two for each other and their children.

She loved listening to her youngest son Michael sing, and was always requesting her favorite songs from him. She was his #1 groupie, and was so proud of his talent, always encouraging him to chase his dreams. There is no one else she would let turn her basement into a band practice space besides her littlest baby. His willingness to help at the bookstore gave her great pride, and she knew that God was working in his life in a special way.

She loved spending summers at the softball fields, and was her son Christian's biggest fan. She and Mike were often the oldest people in the stands, especially at the 10 pm games, but she just wanted to be there and cheer him on. She often didn't even know if his team won or lost, she just knew her son was always the best on the field.

Her daughters, Michaela and Danielle, became her best friends, and every day began with the three of them saying good morning before she would begin her rosary. She and her girls loved being in the sunshine, and were always up for happy hour on a patio. She had so much fun getting ready with them on their wedding days, and watching them become mothers was of her greatest dreams come true. With her daughters, she always reminded them to keep it simple and while the girls loved to take a gathering to the next level, it was the spontaneous and easy moments that became the most special.

Nana Kimmy loved her grandchildren dearly, and had a special and unique bond with each of them. She treasured the life and energy they would bring to everything, even when it wore her out. Each of them lit up her day in their own way, and she would tell everyone how much joy they brought her. Even on her hardest days, she would still offer to watch her grandchildren and invite them over for a sleepover at Nana and Papa's. She was praying for them all to become saints, and encouraged them each day to make their hearts like Jesus.

She was never one to be over the top or feel the need for a grand gesture, her affection and love was and still is in the little things. She always did ordinary things with extraordinary love, and had a natural ability to just be present, thoughtful, and sincere in even the smallest of moments. Through all of life's adventures, Kim would lend her gentle advice when asked, but ultimately just delighted in witnessing her family's happiness.

Though she suffered tremendously through her battle with cancer, nothing was harder than the idea of leaving her family. To the end, she never wanted to miss a thing and still woke early, stayed up late, and would never nap, giving her family full and undivided attention always. She was intent on making the most of each and every day, and carried her cross with strength and grace. Her positivity was unmatched. She was a constant friend, easy to be around, and she made everyone around her better. She had a true devotion to the Blessed Mother, and loved to pray the rosary. Her faith was unwavering, and we know she will spend her heaven doing good upon earth.

She is survived by her husband, Michael, her daughters Michaela (Neiter), son in-law Danny, and Danielle (McMillan), son-in-law Casey, and her sons Christian and Michael, grandchildren Beau, Cole, and Alexandra (McMillan), and Gabriel (Neiter), her mother, Shirley, and step-father Jim (Lafontaine). brother James (Chevalier), sister-in-law Beth, nephew Ian, and niece Ella, half-sister Nicole (Clague-Keef), niece Morgan, adopted siblings Anthony, Lillian, and Ashley (Lafontaine), and numerous dear family members.

She is preceded in death by her father, Maurice Chevalier, father and mother-in-law Charles and Elaine Martinson, nephew Mark Martinson, niece Jaimie Dressel, and many extended family members.

A huge thank you to the wonderful staff at Frontier Cancer Center, to Doctor Cobb and Doctor May, and the many incredible nurses. She always expressed so much gratitude for her phenomenal and genuine care. Vigil Service will be held on Thursday April 11th at 6:00pm at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Billings, MT. Funeral will be held on Friday April 12th at 10:00am, also at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. A memorial account in her name has been set up at Altana Federal Credit Union in Billings, MT with donations to be distributed between Billings Catholic Radio and a Special Project at Billings Catholic Schools.