The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Martin Leroy Blum passed away after a battle with cancer, May 19, 2018, in his home in Coulee Dam, Washington. Martin was born in Spokane, Washington, August 8, 1935. Marty spent some time as a young boy in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, Moose Creek, Idaho, where his passion for hunting, fishing and camping began. Marty graduated from Creston High School in 1953, and soon after began his career in the sawmill and lumber industry, working for the Valsetz Lumber Company in Lincoln, Washington, where he learned the various functions of Tug Boat Operations, High Line Winch operations and Leadman.

It was during this time that Marty and Sally Ann Foisey married June 8, 1956. They spent 64 loving years together seeing the country on a shoestring, but together and loving every minute.

Marty joined the Air National Guard in 1958 and served for 6 years.

In 1959, Boise Cascade merged with Valsetz; Marty continued with Boise Cascade in Lincoln, ultimately becoming the Assistant Manager in charge of Personnel, Purchasing and Safety. When the mill at Lincoln was sold in 1970, the family moved to Spokane Valley, Washington. Marty went to work for the Suntec Veneer/Plywood Company, a subsidiary of Boise Cascade at Spokane Industrial Park.

One of Marty's jobs included Personnel Director for Plum Creek Lumber, Columbia Falls, Montana in 1979.

Marty worked as a Machine Operator for General Electric Coil Company and as a Construction Expeditor for Town & Country Steel Buildings.

Marty also worked as the Manager at Seven Bays Marina from 1987 to 1991 for Roosevelt Recreational Enterprises.

Marty retired to Coulee Dam in 1991, though during this time he served as the Interim Director for the Lake Roosevelt Development Association, where he secured $125,000 per year for the next 20 years for the Net Pen fish program.

Marty had a passion for fishing, trolling the waters of Lake Roosevelt, hunting for fish on his beloved boat "Sunbeam" that he owned for 50 years. Marty was an outdoorsman; he enjoyed hunting, boating, camping and gardening. He was a cherished husband, honored father and respected friend. Marty was a good friend to many; he always had a smile on his face and if you weren't a friend, you soon would be.

Marty is survived by his adoring wife of 64 years, Sally Ann (Foisey) Blum; his daughter, Kathleen Marie Wang, of Spokane Valley, Washington; and his son, Martin R. Blum, of Coulee Dam, Washington.

There will be a private service for the immediate family Friday, June 1, at the Wilbur Cemetery and a celebration of life gathering with family and friends at a later date.

Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear.