Paul Martineau, 73, Sidney, MT

Service of the Christian Burial will be Wednesday September 27, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Sidney, MT with Deacon Mitch Anderson officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow the service. Visitation will be Tuesday September 26, 2023 at the Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Sidney, MT from 10:00 A.M until 5:00 P.M. Family and Friends Vigil Service will take place on Tuesday September 26, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at the Fulkerson Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Sidney, MT. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney, MT is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.

Paul Robert Martineau was my friend and life partner. His parents Maurice and Isabelle instilled a value of work, excellence and commitment. Often a solitary soul, Paul was content in his private workspace. But he chose the dental profession that requires physical proximity and a degree of compliance from others. For those who recognized his desire to be of service to them, strong connections and friendships with our patients formed.  

Paul thrived in the pursuit of his education and received the Degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery with high honors from the University of Illinois in 1974. Other achievements were the College of Dentistry M. Howard Kubacki Award in recognition of superior clinical performance, membership in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Kappa Upsilon. He attained certification from the American Dental Association Council of the National Board of Dental Examiners on June 27, 1974, in Billings, Montana and was licensed to practice dentistry in the State of Montana. On June 17, 1974, he was certified as a licensed dentist in the State of Illinois. After completing a Residency in General Dental Practice at the University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics, Paul made his next commitment to Janet Fralick and the adventure began.  

The Mountains appealed to Paul and his initial dental practice was in Kalispell. With Jan at the front desk and chairside, they established a lifelong vocation of teamwork. But economics drew us eastward. The summer of 1978 we set up an office around the corner from the Elks in Sidney, Montana. Working hard and saving, Paul achieved his dream of building his own dental clinic on the corner of Holly and Central in 1984. He took pride in his building and worked on landscaping too. 

Paul was committed to his patients and continued dental education courses. On occasion he enjoyed fishing trips to Canada and hunted geese, deer, antelope and elk. When Jan started running, he joined in "Fun Runs" too. A "cradle Catholic," Jan and Paul were members of St. Matthews Catholic Church. Paul was a member of the Elks and the Richland Economic Development Corporation.  

In 2008 Paul fulfilled his promise to Jan to build a house on a hill with an excellent view of the prairie. Unfortunately, Parkinsons robbed Paul of physical strength and hastened his retirement in 2020. We were pleased to have the dental office continued as Dr. Ferrara's Sidney Dental Clinic. 

Because Paul and Jan did not raise a family, we formed strong bonds within the community and celebrated many birthdays and holidays with Richard (Dick) and Jeannette Phillips and their children. After moving to the country, our neighbors, the Gartners, have been like family and a blessing to us. As Paul grew weaker, we were fortunate to have home health care services provided by Martha Nugent's Thy Neighbor staff. Special thanks to Jessica Byers for being present with Paul and Jan as he was freed from his weary body. Please consider a donation to Martha's Place, the Hospice House. Also thank you to Dr. Kessler, Dr. Pedersen, nurse Tracey Denowh , the staff of Sidney Health Center, Fr. Jim, Fr. Matt, Deacon Mitch, the musicians, readers, Eucharistic minister, pallbearers, ushers, Vigil leaders Sr. Regina Murray, Sr. Rita Rauschendorfer, and Kelly Ihde, and the Catholic Daughters for their help with the service and lunch. 

Paul was preceded in death by his parents Maurice and Isabelle; In-laws Louis and Nettie Fralick; and Jan's son Dennis Norwood.

He is survived by siblings Jeanne Martineau (Ronald Johnson) and Walter (Therese) Martineau; sisters-in law Carol Fralick Morrison and Debra Caraway (Tom); nieces Becki Caito (Mark), Ashley Lynn Arnold, and Catherine Perez-Lopez (Andrew); great nephews Reed and Rhett Creason; great nieces Savannah Arnold and Eleanor "Nellie" Perez-Lopez; and a baby brother in December.