May 3rd, 1932, Lawrence Martin Grahn was born to Mary Christina and Lars Olaf Grahn. He was the second of three children. Although born to a Swedish immigrant, he never learned the Swedish language. Instead his father relished in the fact that his children were American and instilled in all of them, a deep love of their country, something he would instill in his children and grandchildren. Martin spent his early years working and playing with his older brother Lars Alexander right here on the plains of southeast Colorado. Growing up, he was close with his older brother and adored his little sister Charlotte Diane. He was a spirited and kind hearted brother who cared deeply for his siblings.

He attended Pritchett High School where he was named Football King and excelled in Sports. After High School he attended Lamar College to play football, but was drafted into the Korean War. While on leave he met the woman he would love and cherish for the next 60 years. On the night that they met, Berniece said he was the best looking thing she had ever seen! They spent the evening talking and ended it with Martin trying to con Berniece into kissing him. Now, Grandma swears she didn't, but papa says they did! We may never know. But after that Alyce Berniece Brooks and Martin began writing letters back and forth while he was stationed overseas and picked up their relationship once he returned home.

On May 6th, 1956 at the Friends Church in Vilas they were married and began their life together. Martin loved Bernice. It was not uncommon to see them hold hands in church, at ball games, walking down the street or in the car. After a long wait they finally gave birth to their first child Gregory Allen. Four years later their second son was born, Gary Martin. Two years after that they brought home Kalen Ray.

Martin raised his family in Vilas, Colorado. The boys played sports, showed animals, attended school and worked. Martin was a first generation American who worked himself to the bone to provide for his family. However, his work ethic never interfered with him being a dad. When the boys started playing little league, Martin was farming. Breaking the cardinal rule of harvest, when the boys had a baseball game the combine was shut off and he was in town watching his boys. This was a constant theme of Martin as a dad; whether he was rebounding baskets for the boys in his socks at Vilas gym during morning work outs, driving to ball games or simply being an example of a hard-working man, his three boys always came first. He gave his sons the greatest gift a father can give their children- he believed in them. He taught them to work hard, and they worked alongside him from the time they were young. Martin loved his sons unconditionally and their success and happiness were his life's greatest joys.

With that being said, it was no surprise that his sons, marrying and starting their own families only brought more joy and pride to him. Martin loved his daughter-in-laws and welcomed them into his family with open arms. Greg married Carol Glover in 1979, becoming his first "favorite" daughter-in-law. He could always count on her cinnamon rolls and strawberry pies to be a constant source of happiness
A few years later in 1988, Gary married Marsha Chinn making her the newest "favorite" daughter in law. Martin and Marsha moved sheep together, and rode a million miles in the pickup together (they preferred each other to Gary because he can be a little bossy).

In 1995 Kalen somehow snagged the much younger Lisa Rivale. Martin and Lisa made wonderful memories together checking cattle and chasing coyotes. He especially enjoyed a coyote chase when Lisa was very pregnant. The time they spent together ended up elevating Lisa to his "favorite' daughter-in-law. Martin treated his three girls with the utmost respect. Although the girls teased Martin about it, no one will ever know who truly was the favorite!

The birth of Tyson Lane made Martin a grandpa for the first time. From then on, the blessings did not stop. Tanisha LaRae was born two years later.

Next came Clint Martin; Gary and Marsha's first son, quickly followed by MaKayla Gail. Brett Blaine joined the mix in 1999.

Kalen and Lisa's crew began in 1996 and MAN did that crew liven things up! Allyson Sunshine was first. Then Bryce Lawten, Caton Walter and then papa's baby girl Darcy Rae. Attending school in Vilas meant that Martin and Berniece could easily attend everything they did, and if he could, he was always there.

Martin's life quickly became consumed with being a grandparent. He sat through football games, graduations, and weddings. He watched more pig shows than a person could count, cheered through a million games and spent more hours than we know trying to convince Lisa that Caton did NOT have to go to Kindergarten, and should be allowed to go check cows instead.

Each of his grandchildren were loved and adored by him. Papa could be found driving to Houston to watch Clint play basketball or sitting through Tyson's all state games. Papa loved teaching his peach partner, Brett, how to be an honest business man. The medal Bryce achieved at State Cross country this past year was hung in Papa's hospital room and often became the conversation piece with his many visitors. Papa also adored his granddaughters and treasured moments like walking Darcy to preschool, watching Allyson and Tanisha being crowned in the Miss Baca County Pageants, and nothing made him smile more than sharing the newspaper clippings of MaKayla's basketball games. He loved to be a Papa and truly loved his grandkids.

In 2009 God continued to make Martin Grahn "the richest man in the world" as he often called himself. Nolan Dean was born to Philip and Tanisha Hinds, making Martin a great-grandfather, for the first time. Nolan was followed by his little brother Easton Lee. These boys spent long hours in the garden with their Papa picking okra and playing with their toad. Tyson and Erin Grahn added two more great grandchildren with the birth of their two sons Beau Mitchell and Briggs Lane, who filled Papa's last Christmas with joy watching them laugh and play on the floor in front of him. Teke and MaKayla Eldridge gave birth to Aubrey Gail, Martin's only great granddaughter, who seemed to inherit her great grandfather's love of cattle and his hard headedness. Exactly like his grandchildren, he loved each of his great grandchildren separate and special.

Martin was a good and simple man. He loved to sit around and drink coffee with Harold Brooks. He was a good dad, and made sure that his family was in church on Sundays. He was a notorious prankster and had the orneriest smile a man could have. Whether he was accusing Greg Crane of stealing from a waitress, or scaring Bonnie Grahn so badly that she fainted, he never ceased to spread happiness and laughs everywhere he went.

Martin truly put an importance on education. He would often ask his grandkids, "Did you go to school today…you don't want to grow up to be a dummy." His children and his grandchildren must have been listening. He raised seven teachers and all of his children have college degrees and all of his grandchildren that have finished high school have college degrees as well. Martin was very proud of this fact.

On February 22, 2017 Lawrence Martin Grahn went to be with our Lord. In his final days, he was surrounded by the love of his life, his family, and many wonderful friends. He was loved, respected, and cherished by so many. Although he often called himself the "richest man in the world" the people that were lucky enough to call him Husband, Dad, Papa, or friend knew that we were the rich ones.