MARTIN LASA

Martin Lasa, 76, a resident of Portage and long-time resident of Malad, was received into his Heavenly family’s arms Friday, April 15, 2005. He was born March 16, 1929, in the town of Zuibiri, in the province of Navarra, Spain, a son of Juan Lasa and Eulogia Olague.

Martin grew up at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains near the border of France and Spain. He received very little formal education, and at the age of 9, went into the mountains to herd goats. He also worked as a field hand on numerous farms to help support his younger siblings and family. Martin also served in the Spanish Army as was required of all males reaching a certain age.

In December 1954, at the age of 24, Martin immigrated to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1970. During his first 10 years, he worked as a sheepherder throughout the remote area of California and Nevada with his brothers, Joaquin and Florencio. Martin’s second employer was the Southern Pacific Railroad. He was a part of the B&B Crew (bridges and buildings) and held this position for three years. His last employer was the City of Elko, Nevada, where he was the maintenance division foreman for the city cemetery, retiring after 22 years of service.

Martin met and married the love of his life Norma Johnson, on March 14, 1964, in Elko, Nevada, where they made their home for 30 years and raised four children.

Martin was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping, fishing, hunting, and trapping with his family. (It was said that he could catch fish in a mud puddle.)

Upon retirement in 1989, he and Norma moved to Malad, where they made their home for the next 15 years. While in Malad, Martin continued his enthusiastic pursuit of fishing, hunting, and trapping. He also started raising sheep, quarter horses, a few steers and grew an award-winning vegetable garden each year.

Martin is survived by his wife, three daughters, one son, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; Rebecca (Neal) Bryson, Middleton, Idaho; Woodrow Wilson, Los Angeles, California; Tamara (John) Atencio and Martina (Mike ) John, Portage, Utah; three grandsons: Christopher Smalling, Las Vegas, Nevada; Johnny Atencio and Martin John, Portage, Utah; three granddaughters: Danielle Atencio, Plymouth, Utah; Kimberly Atencio and Amanda John, Portage, Utah; and one great-granddaughter, Meagan Smalling, Middleton, Idaho. Surviving him in Spain are one brother, Angel (Augustina) Lasa, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents three brothers, two sisters and one grandson, Joshua.

The family would like to thank all of the wonderful loving staff from IHC Hospice for the great care and consideration Martin received during his long illness.

He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. He was truly One of Kind.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at noon in the Horsley Funeral Home. Burial was in the Malad City Cemetery.