Martin Glen Reeder

Dad was born in Logan, Utah, on September 2, 1930, and passed away October 20, 2022.  He was 92 years old.  He was the third of four children born to Glen and Martha Beck Reeder.

As a child, he learned the value of hard work.  He and his cousins did a lot to help their Grandmother Beck.  They worked on her farm shoveling hay, picking her apple orchard, and gathering wood along the canal for heating and cooking. They also fed the elk along the mountain's edge, shoveling hay out of his Uncle Albert’s hay wagon.  They cut pea vines for farmers to deliver to the local Pea Vinery for processing.
Dad played as hard as he worked.  He loved to swim in the old upper canal, ride horses up the canyon, and fish.  He was a mischievous child getting into trouble with his cousins Lyle and Calvin.  Once they tried to glean the honey out of some beehives (he said that didn't go as smoothly as planned).  They also “borrowed” a watermelon from their neighbor’s garden and enjoyed the sweetness of the vine-ripened fruit.  At around 14 years old, the three of them rode their horses up Green Canyon over to Tony Grove Lake.  This was around the 4th of July.  There were still deep snow drifts that they had to travel through to get there.  They camped for 3 or 4 days and rode home.  They often rode up to Third Dam too.

As a 20 year old, he and his grand champion bull were struck by a bolt of lightning while at the Utah State Fairgrounds. They were waiting to enter the parade of champions.  Dad's arm was momentarily paralyzed and his prized bull was knocked to its knees when struck.

He graduated from South Cache High School in 1948 and went on to Utah State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1954.  He joined the varsity boxing team as a freshman in college.  He won many local bouts and enjoyed the experience of traveling around the region with his boxing teammates.
Dad went on to serve two years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the England Mission, which included Northern Ireland.  While in Ireland, he received permission to box with the Anchor Amateur Boxing Club in Portadown, Ireland. He boxed in the welterweight class.  In newspaper articles, he was always referred to as "the young American Mormon missionary.”  He won all his fights because of the skills he perfected in his earlier young adult life.  In his unconventional way, his service to the Lord saw many successful conversions.

Dad and Mom, Jean Kyle, were married in March 1954 in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple.  They were blessed with seven children all who, along with their loving spouses, survive him.  Mom passed away in 2003.

He joined the United States Air Force in 1954 immediately after college.  While in the Air Force, he trained to be a navigator.  He received a promotion for finding a route that could cut down flight time and fuel costs for C130 cargo jets flying from the United States to Japan. When charting for the North Pole he used the stars as his compass.  This was a feat in itself since a compass spins in circles the closer you get to the North Pole.

Dad received a Masters Degree in the Institute of Government (Political Science) from Brigham Young University in 1968.  He taught Military Science while at BYU from 1964 through 1968.  From there he went to Vietnam as a Combat Navigator in April 1968 through April 1969.   While there, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Flying Cross with Ten Oak Leaf clusters, as well as other honors.  In Vietnam, he was the Lay Leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Bien Hoa Air Base.  He had the opportunity in this calling to be an escort for Elder Ezra Taft Benson as he visited members in the military.  Before retiring from the Air Force, he had accumulated more than 10,000 hours flying time.

Dad loved the outdoors his entire life.  He loved to hunt, fish and camp.  Every opportunity he had, he spent outside enjoying life to the fullest!

He later married Bonnie J. Campbell.  She preceded him in death.

An intimate graveside service took place at the North Logan Cemetery on Friday, October 28.  This property was originally owned by his Grandfather and Grandmother Beck.  It was his greatest desire to be interred there.  He has finally returned home to his beloved ancestral land.  Rest in peace Dad. Funeral arrangements by Allen Mortuary of North Logan. www.allenmortuaries.com