In Loving Memory of Charles "Charlie" Martwig

Charles "Charlie" Martwig, 75, of Billings, Montana, passed away on October 23, 2026, Billings Clinic, surrounded by his family. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Michael and Molina.

A Farm Boy from Minnesota
Charlie was a good ol' farm boy from Minnesota, and he had the accent to match. He grew up working the farm alongside his parents, and the farm never really left him. Every Christmas, he would tell the family that he always gave the hogs and the cows a little extra food on Christmas. It became his own tradition, and Eileen looked forward to it every year. If he didn't bring it up quickly enough, she would prompt him: "What was that thing you did on the farm growing up every Christmas?"

He graduated from West High in Billings and earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and Physical Education from the University of Montana. He married Eileen in 1981 in Kingston, NY.

The Trip of a Lifetime
In 1972, the same year the Olympics came to Munich, Charlie traveled to Europe with some close friends. It was the trip of his lifetime, and he came alive every time he talked about it. One favorite story: the cars over there were so small that when one wouldn't fit in a parking spot, he and his friends simply picked it up and set it in place.

There Was Nothing He Couldn't Do
Charlie was never one to let someone else do a job he could do himself; he even roofed his own house rather than hire it out. Over the years he worked the family farm, drove dangerous logging routes, hauled semis over icy roads, worked on heavy machinery in situations that were iffy at best, and drove a school bus. He worked as a heavy machinery operator for a number of years. He was a proud member of the Teamster’s union. Perhaps most impressive of all, he survived years of road trips with his son, Mckay and a vehicle full of hockey players.

He was also a gifted woodworker. He made custom pieces for family members, each one unique to the person who received it, and they will be cherished for generations.

Steady, Generous, and Proudly Old School
Charlie was always steady, almost like the eye of a hurricane; no one ever saw him fret. He was a man of few words, and his children grew up hearing "Think before you speak." But when he did talk, you listened.

He did things his own way, and his way made sense to him. A couple of years ago, while planning a cross-country trip, he spread out his road atlas and mapped every detail by hand. When McKay showed him that the Maps app on his iPhone could do in under a minute what was taking him an hour, Charlie kept right on planning with his atlas. He also had no patience for cable, internet, subscriptions, or anything else that seemed designed to rip people off. If he had his way, his family would be gathering today in a one-room cabin in Yaak, Montana, filled with old wooden and leather furniture and history memorabilia on the walls.

He loved a good story and a good joke, and his timing was perfect. When Molly couldn't answer her phone, he would leave the whole joke on her voicemail, punchline and all. And the way he greeted people was unforgettable; the moment you walked through the door, he made you feel like you had just made his day.

Faith and Family
Charlie loved his family, and he always took care of everyone. His daughter, Molly, says he was the best dad in the whole world and a living picture of what it means to be "the hands and feet of Jesus." He taught his children to show up, no matter what. The verse that best describes his life is 1 Corinthians 16:14: "Let all that you do be done in love."

To his grandchildren, he was Popi. His first grandchild remembers waiting in the bay window at Noni and Popi's house for him to come home from driving truck, eating ice cream cones with him in the McDonald's parking lot, and how much he loved it when her hair was in braids. He would talk history with her for hours, practiced her handwriting and cursive with her, and taught her how to write a check.

The family had many animals over the years, but Charlie especially adored Emmet P. Smudpucker, the family's orange cat.

Survived By
Charlie is survived by his wife of 45 years, Eileen; his daughter, Molly (John); his son, McKay (Savannah); his five grandchildren, who called him Popi; and his sister, Caroline. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Molina, and his brother, James.

Services
A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, 10/29 at Michelotti-Sawyers Funeral Home & Crematory at 1001 Alderson Ave, Billings, MT 59102, with Pastor Marc Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A reception will follow at the Knights of Columbus.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Ronald McDonald House or the March of Dimes. Arrangements are in the care of Michelotti-Sawyers Funeral Home & Crematory.