Floyd F. Marty

Floyd F. Marty, a major force in the Eastern Montana furniture business for nearly half a century, died peacefully in his Glendive home Friday, January 16, 2004, at age 96. He was surrounded by his family and "Chee Chee," his beloved gray cat. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, January 22, 2004 in the Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastors Paul Everett and Avis Anderson officiating. Interment will be in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements. Marty owned and operated Koch Furniture in downtown Glendive from 1948 until he retired in 1992. Five years later he sold the business to longtime employee Charles Bondley. Marty married Frances Fay McConaughey on St. Patrick's Day, 1933 in Madison, Nebraska. They shared a love of music and often performed as a duet. Frances died on September 17, 1983, exactly 50 and one-half years after they were married. Their love gave them three daughters—Jacquelin Hagen of Iowa City, Iowa, and Gretchen Marty Pritchard and Elaine Marty, both of Glendive. Other survivors include a brother, Arthur Marty of White City, Oregon, nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Also preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Born August 2, 1907, in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Marty studied journalism at the University of Missouri, where he played on the football team and sang with the 110-member glee club that performed in Carnegie Hall in 1926. Lacking funds to continue college, Marty joined Montgomery Ward's huge Kansas City retail store's advertising staff in 1928, launching a 20-year career with the mail order giant that carried him to store managerial posts in Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and Minnesota before taking over the Anaconda store in June 1942. After that store burned to the ground five years later, Ward transferred him to his ninth store—in Miles City. Frustrated with corporate constraints, Marty explored owning his own business and settled on Koch Furniture. "I never looked back, " he said. "I always knew I could sell furniture." An astute businessman, Marty had an uncanny sense of what the people in his area liked, and prowled the national furniture markets for styles and models that would suit their tastes. He was credited with keeping his eye on the big picture, while making sure routine details were handled—the store windows sparkled and the furniture was displayed effectively. Clutter was forbidden, even in the workroom. Marty was a hardy soul, always walking to work whether the temperature was 100 above or 40 below. In his 64 years on the job, he recorded only one absence because of illness. He worked six days a week, managing to sneak out occasionally for an afternoon round of golf with his buddies that he loved to "skin." Anything but ostentatious, Marty said that after paying off his original bank loan "I never borrowed another dime." He loved driving and always owned a nice car that he kept looking like new, a passion for appearances that carried over into carefully tending his lawn at home right up to the time of his death. While Marty concentrated on the business, he also contributed much to the community, especially the medical center and community college. He also found time for another passion—golf. He was a major force in the development and opening of Glendive's Cottonwood Country Club, where golfers could finally play on sandless greens. A near par shooter, Marty began competing in the Montana State Seniors Golf Tournament in 1967, winning the "grand" division one year. He served on the tournament's Board of Directors for 17 years and never stopped swinging for the pin until his equilibrium began to falter two years ago, when he was pushing 94. Tennis, swimming, bowling and trout fishing were among his other athletic pursuits. At 6 feet 3, Marty was a commanding presence and, although considered aloof by some, he was adored by his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who looked up to him as a role model. In his "downtime," Marty was an avid reader with a wide range of interests—from current events to historical and mystery novels. He was also interested in astronomy and could discuss space phenomena in detail. His powerful tenor voice lent strength to the church choir, where "Fran" also sang and played the organ. Marty was a formidable competitor, excelling at everything he tried—business, sports, cards—and was always in control. Like Sinatra, he did things his way. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Glendive Medical Center, 202 Prospect Drive, Glendive, MT 59330.

Floyd F. Marty

August 2, 1907 - January 22, 2004

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Floyd F. Marty

August 2, 1907 - January 22, 2004

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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