Parker Martinson

Parker E. Martinson, 78 of Arthur, passed away on February 17, 2021, at the Ogallala Community Hospital.

Parker was born July 7, 1942, at Haxtun, Colorado, to John and Esther (Newbanks) Martinson. He attended school in Colorado before going to work in ranching.

Ranch work would eventually bring Parker to Nebraska for a time before he moved back to Colorado to work on the feed elevators at Paoli. On April 22, 1961, Parker married Sharon Kay Wilson, and their union was blessed with two sons, Glenn and Bruce. The couple moved to Tucson, AZ, where Parker worked in copper mining and trucking before working for a ready-mix outfit driving a mixing truck. The family bought a farm in Montrose, Colorado which brought them to live in the area for thirty-five years, intermittently back and forth from Tucson. Eventually, Parker went to work in precious metal mining, which he enjoyed for several years before working at XL Drilling as a supervisor over several drilling rigs. Ever the entrepreneur, Parker left XL and purchased some excavating equipment, owning and operating Martinson Backhoe Service. In the early 2000s, the couple moved to Arthur, Nebraska, to be closer to family.

Parker was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon, his parents, and a brother, John II.

Survivors include his sons, Glenn Martinson (Anita McArthur) of Wascum, TX; Bruce (Renee) Martinson of Pembroke, NH; four grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; along with many other relatives and good friends.

A memorial has been established in Parker's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, March 1, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the Arthur Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Sunday, February 28, 2021, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.