Big Sky Cremations

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In Memory Of

Martin Klein

May 31, 1939 – December 18, 2016

Martin Klein, 77, of Butte passed away December 18, 2016. He will be buried at Montana State Veterans Cemetery in the spring.

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Memories

Read the thoughts and memories, then feel free to add your own.

  1. Kelly says

    In loving memory of my very special Dad
    Dearest Dad, I can’t think of anything I would give to hear your voice, to see your smile and to just sit and talk to you. Looking back over the years the best times that we had, the YMCA, the girlscouts, boyscouts and brownies, the schwinn bicycles, Hershey Park, and the ice cream shop , came down to just one special man and that was you Dad. Remembering you is easy I do it everyday. Love You Forever, Dad
    Kelly

  4. TL says

    Marty would also insist added- the second: the Memorial itself’s originator and founder, publically slandered and libeled, shot in the back by the Board, scapegoated for the loss of the Memorial and breakup of the Museum, and ostracized from the law enforcement community.
    Rather than embracing even what some civilians pondered “What would REAL cops do when their fellow fallen were under threat,” today’s self-interest princes embraced “What would Judas do?” and sold their souls, without even collecting thirty pieces of silver.
    “Self-serving opportunism is irresponsible, immoral, and reprehensible” (Thomas Paine, Patriot); “To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice” (Confucius).
    Of Marty, the rest of Romans 13:7 says: “Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.”
    Although he didn’t die In The Line of Duty in the traditional sense, nevertheless:
    “A Part of America Died” …
    The beat that he walked was a battlefield, too,
    Just as if he’d gone off to war.
    Though the flag of our nation won’t fly at half mast.
    A cop put his life on the line.
    Now, his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
    And he stands at each new rookie’s side.
    He answered the call and gave us his all,
    And a part of America died.”
    Yes, I did know him.
    He was a cop, he was true back-up, he was my brother.
    I give my salute to you, Martin Klein!
    TL-78

    http://montana-law-enforcement-memorial-facts.yolasite.com/

  5. TL says

    We lost one of the best last week.
    Martin Klein was a consummate policeman, a Real Centurion – one of the last of so very few. He wore the uniform proudly, and he served with dignity, integrity and professionalism. He looked upon police work not as a job but as a vocation, as GOD Himself considers all true police officers as “God’s servant(s) for your good” (Romans 13:1-7).
    He was idealistic and believed he could make a difference for the good. He was immensely proud of the uniform and the badge and what they represent. He felt privileged to be of service to his departments, his communities and to his country. He was dedicated to the profession and cared about the people he served. He wanted to do the best job that he could and strive to be the best he could be. He was a true cop.
    His calling to “Serve, Protect and Assist” the Montana Law Enforcement Museum & Officers Memorial was more than an honor to him; especially protecting the memories and living honor of his fellow officers Fallen In The Line of Duty to his last breath.
    Knowing Marty wanted the truth to come out by all means, the following is made part of this tribute.
    Prominently eminating from military and police realms today, we consistantly hear the proclamation “No one left behind.” Since history’s very first formal police organization, established in 61 AD Rome, the greatest act of valor and Number One Rule, which officers sworn oath to in full ceremony every year, was “Never to desert comrades in order to save yourself.” No act of honor or bravery was viewed more paramount or so selfless as giving back-up to your fellow officer; therein, of course, also lies the greatest sin and cowardice: not backing-up fellow officers when faced by an attacking enemy. This cowardice was punished in practice, and later at least in thought, by being beaten to death by one’s comrades or thrown headlong from the Tarpeian Rock overlooking the Roman Forum.
    “He who does not perform what he has promised, is a traitor to his friends” (Anon); “Better it were not to live than live a coward” (Sir Walter Raleigh); “The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood” (Gen. George S. Patton).
    In March 2007, after dirty politics and causing stink with false claims and lawless threats by local honorables and those they duped, today’s new generation princes of Montana’s law enforcement who came to comprise the MLEM’s Board of Directors, in whom Montana’s law enforcement solely-owned and operated Museum-Memorial is entrusted – with every right and law on the Museum-Memorial’s side – betrayed the Memorial to the locality’s jealously and 31 pieces of silver greed.
    Of Montana’s over 200 criminal justice agencies and 20,000 member law enforcement community, only two have ever refused to back-off. Only two kept the promise to back-up Montana’s Line of Duty 119 in their most desperate time from being grave-robbed, literally imprisoned, now even caged inside a locked cell, degraded, and eventually to be forgotten – again. Only two kept the fight and speak out for 119 who cannot speak for themselves, while all others have turned their backs.
    “Betrayal is common for men with no conscience” (Toba Beta); “A man has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so” (Walter Lippmann).
    Fighting the betrayal and selling out of the 119, the two themselves were also betrayed. “…and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:36).
    First was Martin: unceremoniously removed by the Board of Directors of all Museum-Memorial service or association, belittled, ridiculed, shamed, and ignored … certainly the major factor in the onset of his long suffered declining health, and now his death.

  13. robin klein says

    Dearest Dad,
    It’s has been 3 weeks today since you left us. Each day is not getting better and I don’t think it ever will because I’m missing a big piece of my heart. I know you are gone but you will never be forgotten. I’m so proud to say you were my Father for many different reasons, but most of all because you were my Father. I love you Dad with all my heart and I will continue to love you, you will never be forgotten you are with me always. You are my hero Dad and you always will be, your Robin

  16. Fred K Klein says

    Yes, I too lit a candle for Martin in the kitchen where he spent many hours sipping
    on the boost which was his main source of nourishment due to complications from
    diabetes and heart disease. I kept the light burning in his bedroom where he listened
    to his police scanner – one of several he had in the house we shared in Butte, MT.
    It wasn’t just the police we would listen to but Salt Lake City Center where the airplanes received flight instructions as they approached our city that had no manned control tower!
    We grew up together in a small house in Queens, N.Y. which was right on the flight pattern of Idlewild Airport now known as JFK. Every 10 minutes a plane would fly over the house Martin could tell instantly what type of plane it was. His interest in airplanes one day led him to a security job at JFK itself in 1965, several years after a tour of duty in the United States Air Force as a communications technician where he flew in many C-130s and maintained communications for a unit during the shelling of Quemoy – Formosa in 1959 – a little known conflict at the time between Red China and the Free Republic of Taiwan which if not for President Eisenhower potentially could have started WW3. That part of it can be told now but not then. Its importance to the world is now documented in the history books. Montana was where he was stationed last in the Air Force where he met his wife, Margie. His family grew from there and he leaves behind 4 now grown children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren. After being back in NY for a year he missed Montana and came back here after that and is and now will be here ever since. I posted a picture of his history which is quite extensive. The diseases he suffered in his latter years turned him into a man that no one would have recognized as the same person. A man who could in his years in law enforcement single handedly make a gunman in a bar think he was surrounded and get him to lay down his weapon, a man who pulled criminals out of their car windows if he had to even if they were bigger than he was. He had his gentle side-too When there was a domestic dispute-it was Marty who the couples wanted to speak to and often he would calm them down. Marty was my big brother in every sense of what it means to have a big brother. My parents gave me life – yet it was my big brother who I owe so much to helping me live it. We were two very different people in so many ways but I always looked up to him – as hewas a man worth looking up to in so many ways – so eloquently stated by Father Terry Tyler the founder of the Montana Law Enforcement Museum. One more thing to add to that story that I am as obsessed to share as he was in getting justice for not only the museum itself but for the memory of the souls who gave their lives in the line of duty who were memorialized in the Montana Law Enforcement Museum. He went to two local newspapers here in Butte, Mt. to share his side of the story of how the museum was being dismantled in the city of Deer Lodge – 45 miles from Butte. The newspapers didn’t even want to listen to him and instead told him “It wasn’t a Butte story”. Wasn’t a Butte story! 15 policeman from the city of Butte, Mt. gave their lives in the line of duty that are memorialized in the Montana Law Enforcement Museum – How could they say that, to put it mildly-you can fill in whatever words you would use to describe it- “thoughtless” comes to mine right now. On reflection – you know maybe they were right – it wasn’t a Butte story – It’s a story for the whole world – He dedicated 10 years of his life to the memorializing of the all the Police officers of every city and town in the State of Montana and agonizing for the rest of his life whether the memorial would be properly administered by Law Enforcement not civilians. I his “younger” brother want the whole world to know it and remember him! Martin never let being blind in one eye stop him! RIP my brother!
    Fred “Kenny” Klein

  22. Kelly says

    happy birthday to my dad I know he is having a good celebration with Grandpa Sid and Grandma Sylvia

  54. robin says

    Thinking about you today Dad, miss you more and more. Thank you for your service. You are my hero. Love you Dad, your Robin

  71. robin klein says

    Dearest Dad,

    It’s has been a long 4 years without you. You are my hero, I love you Dad. Your, Robin

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