Carolina May Martin, 91, passed away in her sleep September 20, 2023, at Heritage Estates in Gering, Nebraska. The viewing and visitation will be Monday, September 25, from 3-7 pm, at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff. A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, September 26, at 2 pm, at Salem Congregational Church, 2001 7th Ave, Scottsbluff, with Pastor Matt Hebbert officiating, followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Services will be livestreamed on Bridgman Funeral Home Facebook Page. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Carolina’s honor may be made to Salem Congregational Church. Online condolences may be made by viewing Carolina’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Carolina May Martin was born at home in Minatare, Nebraska, on January 4, 1932, to Eva Elizabeth (Hardt) and Alex Harimon. She grew up working in the fields with her brother and three sisters, while also attending school. She graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1950. Carolina worked at Ben Franklin, the local “five and dime” store in Scottsbluff.
With only the minister and one witness able to make it through the blizzard to the church, Carolina was united in marriage to Harold “Curly” Martin on March 26, 1950, at Salem Congregational Church. Together they farmed in the area before buying their first farm north of Scottsbluff in 1962 in order to have indoor plumbing for their family of six.
Carolina was a lifelong member of Salem Congregational Church, where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. She was very active in the Victory Hill Women’s Extension Club and various organizations within Salem Church, while also volunteering numerous hours to the West Nebraska General Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed planting a large garden each year, along with freezing and canning some of the harvest to be enjoyed year-round. She embroidered tea towels in her spare time, giving most of them as gifts to friends and family and donations to the Church.
Carolina was devoted to her faith and her family. She showed her love to all those around her with homemade German food, even transporting complete meals of hot food to crews working in the fields and to friends and neighbors after a death in the family.
Carolina is survived by her niece Marilyn-Klein Fisher of West Des Moines, Iowa; sons Roger (Brenda) Martin of Mitchell, Nebraska, and Russell (Linda) Martin of “Homeless, Texas”; daughter Sandra (Jim) Lunniss of Sidney, Nebraska; sister Patricia Randall of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; sister-in-law Shirley (Ervin) Martin of Gering, Nebraska; grandchildren Rebecca (Kail) Bowman of Ottumwa, Iowa; Matt (Hilary) Klein of West Des Moines, Iowa; Jaci Lunniss of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Kelly (Shawn) Larson of Mitchell, Nebraska; Ben (Nicole) Martin of Windsor, Colorado; Sean Martin of Mitchell, Nebraska; Elizabeth (Jeremy) Allen of Sunnyvale, Texas; Travis Martin of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Daniel (Bayley) Martin of Loveland, Colorado; Phillip Martin of Estes Park, Colorado; and great-grandchildren Isaac Bowman of Lincoln, Nebraska; Christian Bowman of Ottumwa, Iowa, Iowa; Adrianna Jo Lunniss of Mitchell, Nebraska; Leo, Miah and Tatum Martin of Loveland, Colorado; Ava, William and Noah Martin of Windsor, Colorado; and Victoria and Isaiah Allen of Sunnyvale, Texas.
Carolina was preceded in death by her husband Harold; her parents; her in-laws David and Katherine Martin; brother George Harimon and his wife Janice; sister Alvina Herbel and her husband David; sister Loretta Miller; brother-in-law John Randall; brother-in-law Robert Martin; Harold’s Sister Dorothy; brother-in-law Ervin Martin; brother-in-law Donald Martin and his wife Shirley; sister-in-law Margie and her husband Thomas Meier; son Richard; infant daughter Linda; granddaughter Jennifer Martin; and grandson Michael Klein.