Thomas Martin

Thomas “Tom” Martin, 73, of Mandan, passed away on January 31, 2025 in a Bismarck Hospital. Tom, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in June 2024. He faced many obstacles during this time and fought back hard, giving it his all, in the end his body was just too tired and weak.

A gathering will be held on Friday, February 7 from 9-10 am at the Bismarck Funeral Home chapel with a rosary and time of sharing starting at 10 am. 

Tom was born in Bismarck on April 8, 1951; the third of nine children born to Edward (Pepper) and Mary (Doll) Martin. He attended Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Grade School through 8th grade and graduated from Bismarck Central High School in 1970.

During his high school years, Tom worked at Scotty’s Drive-In which launched a career cooking. After high school he married Marsha Sabot and they had 2 sons, Cody and Blaise. They lived in Aberdeen, SD for several years where he was the kitchen manager in a restaurant. From there, his life path led him to management position for Taco John’s in Jamestown. Tom met and married Cindy Zinck and to this union he was blessed with his little girl, Jenna. He also did some management jobs in Wahpeton, ND. He owned and operated the Colfax (ND) Bar and from there he managed the VFW in Valley City, ND. One final move brought him back to Bismarck/Mandan in 2015 during which time he cooked for Edgewood Village, Shiloh Christian School and the deli in Family Fare. Tom met you once and you were his friend. He would always say my girls here or my friend there, you know them. He was never at a loss for words, he would/could strike up a conversation with anyone.

Tom always enjoyed the outdoors. He was an avid hunter, although fishing was his favorite pastime. Growing up, a regular family activity following Sunday mass was for Mom to pack a picnic, and the family to pile into the car and head to the river or an area lake for an afternoon of trying to catch the ‘big one’! Tom shared his love of fishing with his sons, daughter and grandsons. Zac would say when it was quiet out on the water all of a sudden "you'd hear G Tom start singing" and that's when you knew he had a fish on. 

His move back to Bismarck/Mandan brought him much pleasure as he was able to spend much time with his grandchildren watching them participate in their school sports and activities. He was a very proud Grandpa! Tom's nephew Shannon was always ready to help him with anything that he needed help with, often just driving around.

Tom’s biggest joy came at the end of June 2024 in a little bundle of joy by the name of Otto Jon Thomas Martin, his great-grandson! In the 7 months that Otto was in Tom’s life, he brought many, many smiles to Tom’s face!

Tom is survived by son Cody (Darlene) of Bismarck; son Blaise, San Francisco, CA; and daughter Jenna, Moorhead, MN; grandsons Zac (Brieann), Minot and Conner, Bismarck; granddaughters Abby and Olivia, Bismarck; adopted grandson Zane and great grandson Otto, Minot. He is further survived by sisters Patty Thorp and her son Shannon, Bismarck; Michele, Bismarck; Deb Hopfauf (TJ), Mandan; Carol Redmann (Don), Mapleton; brothers Ken (Bev Priefer), Fitchburg, WI; Bill (Paula), Bismarck; sister-in-law Jocelyn Martin, Bismarck; brother-in-law Mike Swartz, Jamestown; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Tom is now at peace with his parents, older brother Richard (Dick), younger sister Alberta Martin Swartz, brother-in-law Vern Thorp, friend and fishing partner Travis Burnside and many of his good friends he grew up with.