Martin (Marty) William Crennen died on March 18, 2017, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena after an extended illness. Marty was born in 1930 in Billings, Montana to Janet and Martin Crennen, who lived on a homestead in Musselshell County near Roundup, Montana. At age 1 ½ yrs., his family moved to Gallatin Gateway where his Dad had purchased a farm. Marty attended grade school in Gallatin Gateway, and then after 8th grade Marty’s parents moved into Bozeman so that he could attend Gallatin County High School. During his junior year Marty was selected to attend the first session of Montana Boys’ State in 1947.
After high school graduation in 1948, Marty and several friends enlisted in the Navy. He had signed on for three years, however when the Korean War broke out his tour of duty was extended for a year and his ship, the USS McCaffery, a destroyer, was on its way via the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Suez Canal, and Indian Ocean to patrol the Straits of Taiwan. His ship’s duty also included rescuing pilots whose planes had been shot down in the Sea of Japan.
Upon discharge from the Navy, Marty enrolled in the School of Architecture at Montana State. He also joined the Sigma Chi fraternity at MSU where he made many life-long friends. His Sigma Chi Brothers continued to gather annually at their elk hunting camp for over 40 years and also met together with their families every year at Big Sky for New Years. Marty remained a Life Loyal Sig all his life.
Following graduation from Montana State in 1957 (his was the first class to graduate in the new Brick Breeden Fieldhouse), he married Margaret Ann Olson from Ennis, Montana on June 2, 1957. They began married life in Great Falls, Mt. where Marty worked for Knight & VanTeylingen, Architects. He also began what was to be a lifetime of community service when he became President of the Great Falls Jaycees. He also served as Montana State Vice-President of the Jaycees. While living in Great Falls their two sons, Mike and Tim were born.
In 1964, the family moved to Helena where Marty joined Joe Campeau in the firm of Campeau & Crennen, A.I.A. He remained a partner for 30 years until his retirement in 1994. Marty designed many interesting projects including churches, schools, banks, nursing homes and government office buildings across southwestern Montana, but mainly concentrated in Helena. His firm designed its own office building at 1 North Last Chance Gulch, the first new construction on the Gulch after Urban Renewal. Several years after his retirement, he went back to work part time for the City of Helena Building Dept. reviewing plans. He greatly enjoyed the friendship of the staff in the department.
Marty was a great supporter of his profession. He served as state president of the Montana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Then Governor Tom Judge appointed him to the Montana State Board of Architects on which he served for nine years, several times as Chairman. Marty then became involved with the National Council of Architectural Boards and was elected to the National Board serving as the Director of a Region stretching from Montana through Oklahoma. He also served on the National Exam and Grading committee for many years.
Marty was elected to the College of Fellows during the National Meeting of the A.I.A. held in New York City in 1987. In 1993, he was elected Director of the Northwest-Pacific Region of A.I.A., a region including Alaska, Hawaii and Guam and served on the National Board of A.I.A. through 1996. In 2005, the NWP Region recognized Marty as their fourth recipient of the Region’s Medal of Honor at the Regional Conference held in Seattle, Washington. Through his A.I.A connections, Marty felt lucky to affiliate with a group of architects who loved golf, half of whom were Americans and the other half British. Their common interest was golf and every two years would take the group to Britain and then two years later to a golf destination in the U.S. where they played a week of Ryder Cup style matches.
In more recent years he discovered the pleasure of cruises and explored both Western and Eastern ports in the Mediterranean, as well as ports in the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, the North Atlantic and the South Pacific. In addition Marty enjoyed attending ship reunions for the USS McCaffery when he could, meeting first in Baton Rouge, then Savannah, and finally in Boston.
Marty served on the School of Architecture Advisory Board at Montana State University for many years and was named an Emeritus member of the Board. He was a lifetime MSU alum and Bobcat supporter and held season football tickets ever since the “new” stadium was built – over 40 years!
Marty made significant contributions to the city of Helena serving on many Boards, often as Chairman. Boards included St. Peter’s Hospital, Florence Crittenden Home, Helena Housing Authority, United Way, Food Share, and Old Governors ’Mansion. He also enjoyed serving as a St. Peter’s Hospital volunteer for many years after his retirement. Marty was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral serving (more than once) on the Vestry and as Jr. and Sr. Warden. He was a long-time member of Green Meadow Country Club where for many years he enjoyed playing with his golf team in the Wednesday evening league. Later on he played in the Wednesday morning Senior league and then finally just enjoyed lunch on Wednesdays with his good friends. Marty was also a Shriner, and enjoyed many years of playing the drum and marching with the Algeria Shrine Patrol.
Marty is survived by his wife, of nearly 60 years, Marg; his sons Mike (Louellen) Crennen and Tim (Deb) Crennen; his grandchildren Tyler Crennen, Amanda Crennen, and Michael Crennen; his nieces Kathy (John) Sobrepena, and Bobbie (Brent) Bahny; nephew John Overstreet; and several grand and great grand nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Jean Overstreet.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral, %11 N. Park Ave., at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 21st, followed by the interment of ashes in St. Peter’s Memorial Garden with Military Honors. A reception hosted by St. Anne’s Guild will be held downstairs in the undercroft of the church.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Weiner and his Staff and the entire Staff on the oncology floor at St. Peter’s Hospital for the exceptional care given to Marty. Also special thanks to Father Gabriel Morrow and Deacon John Moran for their countless visits and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: The Marty Crennen F.A.I.A. Architecture Scholarship, Montana State University Alumni Foundation, P.O. Box 172750, Bozeman, Mt. 59717-2750 or to St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation, 2475 Broadway, Helena, Mt. 59601 or St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral, P.O. Box 819, Helena, Mt. 59624.
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Martin.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday April 21, 2017
St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral
511 N. Park Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial with Military Honors
After the service
Friday April 21, 2017
St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral Columbarium
511 N. Park Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
After the burial
Friday April 21, 2017
St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral Social Hall
511 N. Park Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday April 21, 2017
St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral
511 N. Park Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial with Military Honors
After the service
Friday April 21, 2017
St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral Columbarium
511 N. Park Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
After the burial
Friday April 21, 2017
St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral Social Hall
511 N. Park Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Florence and Dick Mayer says
Our thoughts and prayers and with you and your family ….and remember him not only as a person to count on from an professional standpoint but also a great person to know and consider a good friend.
Dick Anderson says
Marty was a great person and nice to work with. Marge and his home was the7th home we built! I always will have great memories of Marty.
Susan Near says
Marty was such a blessing in many ways. His enthusiasm while on the Original Governor’s Mansion board was infectious and his help with numerous restoration plans and projects there was invaluable. Sincere condolences to Marg and family. We’ll miss him greatly.
Jean Koelzer says
Montana State University, School of Architecture
Marty’s support of the School of Architecture will always be remembered. We will miss his visits to the school as an advisory council member and as a scholarship donor. We were honored that he shared his time with the school and the college serving on various committees and reviews. We will miss his wisdom, his talent, and his generosity…we will miss his friendship! He will be remembered every year at our scholarship celebration night for his lasting gift of a student scholarship – the Marty Crennen FAIA Architecture Scholarship.
Vincent S Werner says
To the family – Marty and I were of that Greatest Generation and had great experiences designing post-war Montana projects. Thankfully, he worked out of Helena and I out of Great Falls, so competition was limited somewhat! We may have been been officers in the Montana Institute of Architects at the same time. I had such respect for the man! You can’t buy these kinds of experiences these days. MSU August ’48
Susan Bjerke says
Marty was an amazing mentor. I had the wonderful opportunity to work for the Campeau, Crennen and Karhu team during high school and college. Seeing Marty and Marg at architectural and community events was always a highlight. He will be missed.
Susie Fergerson -Wong says
My thoughts are with all of you. I am glad I had the chance to visit with him last year. He was always so kind and fun to talk to. God bless!
Kryss kuntz says
Mike and family, so sorry for your loss. There is nothing harder on children to lose parents. They are who shaped and molded us! God Bless you all. Mike if you need anything let me know! Take care!
Mike and Diane Langenfus says
Marge, Mike, Tim and family,
I am so very sorry to read about Marty passing, it’s been about a year since I last got to speak with him. I was just thinking of him with this special election we have coming up, I always enjoyed hearing Marty’s view. Plus he was the consummate Bobcat and up until a few years ago I could always find them drinking hot chocolate before the game on cold days or up in the stands during the game. I am so saddened for all of you especially Marge you two went everywhere together two peas in a pod. Please accept our expression of sympathy Mike and I both enjoyed Marty and he truly made his mark in Helena.
God Bless!
Diane and Mike
Paul O'Toole says
On behalf of the RIBA side of the RIBA-AIA International Golf Society , we wish his wife Marg and all his family our sincere condolences.Marty was a one of our longest serving members, who will be greatly missed.
Paul O’Toole Captain RIBA
Allan Stricker says
Marty was great to work with and certainly a credit to his profession. He was an architect to whom product and conduct was more important than so many of the other distractions in the design/construction business. A real gentleman – all the time.
Ruth Jones says
I met Marty & Marge when I moved across the street to them the short two years we lived in Great Falls. My husband traveled and I will always remember the night I thought some one was trying to get in my house and I called Marty in the middle of the night . He came over and checked everything to make sure I was safe and I was ever so fond of the boys Mike would come across the street even when he really was not suppose to Then Marge & Marty moved to Helena and we moved ;back to Helens MY children and theirs were good friends . I am so thankful for their friendship I was lucky enough to have had with both of them and I truly pray Marge will keep in touch It was such a privilege for me to have been lucky enough to have had them as friends Love and hugs Ruth Jones
Mike and Debbie Phillips says
Hello Tim and Deb:
It has been a long time since we have had the chance to visit or since our MSU days. I happened to see your dad’s article in the Billings Gazette and I just wanted you to know that it was a very nice memorial. He sounded like an excellent man and father. No wonder Tim turned out to be such a good friend and family man as well. Anyway, I hope all is well for the both of you. My Debbie and I will be thinking of you during this time of loss for you and your family. Mike and Debbie Phillips
Jo and Paul Bryson says
So very sorry for your loss.?Our thoughts and prayers are with you.????
Bill and Sally Toner says
Marg,
So sorry to hear about Marty’s passing. You and Marty were such dear friends of my parents and so good to them. Marty was a fine and very thoughtful person who will be missed by many. God Bless you and your family.
David Campbell says
Sorry to hear about the passing of Marty. My thoughts and prayers for Marge, Mike, Tim and their families.
Mary Reynolds says
My thoughts and prayers are with your entire family during this time! From what I have heard and read, he was a very remarkable man. God’s blessings on you all.
Laurie Stromberg Miller says
Marge,
My condolences for your loss. Marty was a true gentleman. I enjoyed working with him at the City Building Division. How lucky we were to have had his example in the office.
Brian J. Lannan says
Marge, Mike, Tim and family:
We offer you our thoughts, prayers and well-wishes during this time of loss.
We are both honored and blessed to have known Marty.
With Sincere Condolences,
Brian & Alexis Lannan