Danica Martinez Obituary

Dearest Darri,Darren, and families,

I was so very sorry to hear of Danica's passing. She was such a unique and wonderful girl.

I will always have a special place in my heart for her..along with your mom and dad. Now they are together again.

With sincere sympathy,

Carol Hill

I went to school with Danica until the end of 3rd grade when my parents moved us to Northern Michigan. Biwabik has always been an idyllic place in my mind, particularly because of people like Danica. I remembered her smile and how she always seemed to have a glow around her. I always felt like while I was there I was with the best people and I always wished I could return to be with them again. It saddens me greatly to hear that both her and Roxanne are gone. My best wishes go out to her family and everyone else that knew her.

Danica, Danica, Danica: You and I grew up together two houses from each other. We became close friends and stayed in touch through out the years. I never forgot the day you were moving to Colorado. That was one of the worst days of my life. Just couldn't believe you were really leaving. I came out for a visit and we had a blast. The Royal Gorge, Garden of the Gods, etc. You and your husband also came for a visit on one 4th of July. Two years ago you and I and my cousin met up in Estes Park and stayed at the Stanley Hotel and did some ghost hunting. Home of the movie the "Shining". I knew you were sick then and we talked a bit about it but then just enjoyed our time together. We have so many memories together: Biff your car, Rodie the dog, your long pinky finger, I could go on and on. It took me a long time to go to this site because then it is really true that you have passed away. I knew when Darri called me that you passed away. I will miss you very much. You were a one of a kind friend and I think of you everyday. I just wish you would have told me just how really sick you were in the end. I would have come to see you. Danica, we will meet again sometime. You are greatly missed.

Tammy Edwards, your good friend

I have always loved the Bentley family and am blessed to have known them all. I am deeply saddened of Danica's passing. May God take her by the hand and lead her to the side of her mom and dad, where she will watch over us all.

Family Friend

I am so saddened to hear that Danica has died at such a young age. I have fond memories of working with Danica many years ago at First Federal Savings & Loan. Everyone at our branch enjoyed Danica. She brightened up our days. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Ellen York

Dear Family of Danica, We are very sad to hear of Danica's passing. I am Peggy, mother of now deceased Roxane (Rocky) Hayden formerly of Biwabik. Roxane and Danica were good friends until we moved to Minneapolis in 1979 when these friends were in the sixth grade. Roxane and Rhonda did spend time in Biwabik with thier father and the girls may have spent time together then, also. I remember their friendship while we lived there and was glad for that. Roxane died February 13,2000 from complications of her diabetes. She was 33.
May I ask what illness took Danica at such a young age? She had much heartache with the passing of her parents. I hope her marriage brought her joy. I am so very sorry for your loss.

Sincerely,
Peggy Hayden and Rhonda Hayden Paine

Miss Danica, ("hey neighbor" as we used to call each other) my childhood friend... I didn't know you were ill and I'm sorry we never got to visit one another in our 'adult' years, I fondly remember our childhood years... we'd play at our houses and went to the beach swimming, eating bags and bags and bags of sunflower seeds until our mouths hurt from all that salt... and playing tennis and frisbee on 7th Avenue as cars drove by honking at us HAHA, or riding our bikes everyday in the summer and going downtown to buy candy at Margaret's, I recall a few crazy times cruising in your Pacer - loved that car!, remember when you rode our mini-motorcycle into the back of your house?! OMG we were so scared but laughed about it later, and our pet hermit crabs that we just HAD to have... dressing up in costumes during all the High School Homecoming Days... those times were a blast... when you dressed up as Boy George OMG you really looked like him! or the time we entered that Raid Pest Control Picture Contest and we dressed up as bugs HAHA I still have that picture!, or the time we ate that Pearson's 25-pound salted nut roll my Mom got, and how many times DID we listen to that ol' 8-track of Steve Martin's Wild-n-Crazy-Guy?!, ohhh we had so many fun times during our young adolescent years... thank you for being my childhood friend Danica,and for all those fun memories we made along the way... may God Bless You now Danica, I love ya "neighbor"!!

Tammy Souder (7th Avenue neighbor, Biwabik)

So sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Curt and Kathy Jackson

I am so very sorry to hear about Danica passing away. I use to babysit her & Darren & Darri when they were very little. I lost touch & never got to see Danica as a grown women. For me she will always live on in my memory as this very sweet sweet little girl who was always laughing. She had a wonderful personality even at 5 years old. I always knew she would go on to be a shining star. The Bentley's were a wonderful family & I think about all of them often. You have my deepest sympathy.

Our sympathy goes out to Danica's family. Danica was a nice neighbor and a family friend. We are so sorry.

Danica was such a smart charismatic person and I am saddened to hear of her passing. I was a classmate of hers as well in Biwabik. I sat next to her in band for many years and enjoyed her humor. It was at her house that I first tried Fondue. I enjoyed the tribute pictures and I remember when she wore that Boy George costume! My thoughts & prayers are with her family.

hi darrin and darrie - i feel so bad to hear that danica has passed. both ben and chris are sorry to hear about it, also. i have wonderful memories of little danica, when i babysat her. our whole family named a dish after her called danica eggs(hard boiled eggs mixed with butter and salt) and we make them all of the time. i am so sorry. berna and john andreachi

I also was one of Danica's Biwabik classmates. We were particularly good friends in Junior High where a group of us would roam the streets and mine dumps of Biwabik, always laughing and having a good time. I remember her fondly. She was so smart and had a very unique sense of humor that kept us all in stitches. For some reason that I cannot even remember now, she nicknamed me "Marlys," and continued to call me that all through school. It always made me laugh. I had not seen her since we graduated, but she was never forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of her family and friends who are grieving and already missing her dearly.

I am so very sorry to hear of Danicas passing. I have many fond memories of our high school days with Danica. She could always make me laugh. I haven't seen her in years, but will always carry with me the memories I have of her. She and her family are in my prayers.
Kathy (Mackey) Jenkins

I am another of Danica's school friends -- Biwabik Class of 1985. I will always remember how smart and witty Danica was. She had a "why not!?" philosophy that made being around her such an adventure! You never had to guess how Danica felt about anything, and I am so very grateful that we were once good friends. I am sad to know that she is gone, and my thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Dear Darren, Darri, and Danica's family,
We are so very sorry to hear of your loss and want you to know we are thinking of your family with heartfelt sympathy.
We grew up in Biwabik in the same neighborhood as Danica and went to school together. Unfortunately, we have not seen her in years but were shocked and deeply saddened by this news.
With sincere sympathy,
Jeff and Susie(Karish) Potocnik

We were sorry to hear that Danica passed away. Even though we have not seen her since high school, she was taken too young. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

John and Linda (Hakala) Kraskey, Cloquet, MN

Danica was my dear friend. What can I say? I have been Danica's friend for 36 years and will miss her tremendously. She called me every year on my birthday to sing to me in Pig Latin. She used to call me when she was homesick for Minnesota and if she couldn't find me she would call my parents. She taught me how to read in 1st grade, helped me with homework when we were kids and played trivial pursuit for hours! Even though I knew I wasn't nearly as smart as her, she never made me feel that way. She taught me how not to care about what anyone else thinks and to be true to myself. I told her that we shared the same birthday because I was reborn the day I had my heart attack on December 12th 2005. We shared many things that I will miss but she will be with me forever. God bless you Danica. You were loved more than you ever knew!

Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. What a special person Danica was. She always had jokes. When I think of Danica the first word that comes to mind is laughter. She had such a quick wit and such a wonderful sense of humor. She could light up any room! I will miss her so much. What a Gem!~

Danica, my fellow Minnesotan. I have very fond memories of Danica. I will miss her humorous ways, her words of wisdom and her caring heart. I feel blessed to be able to be considered one of her friends. My prayers go out to her family and her other friends as well.

Danica touched my life in so many ways. She was a dear friend. I had the pleasure of knowing her for 13 years. We enjoyed countless hours of laughter and "heart to hearts." I am so sorry for her family's loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Janice Ward Colorado Springs

Darri,

My sympathy is with you and Darren during this tuff time. At least she is no longer in pain and at peace. I will miss her but have fond memories of all of the fun times we shared. Let me know when you have the memorial in Minnesota, hopefully I will make it to that one.
My thoughts are with you both.

Darri,

I am sorry for the loss of Danica. I know that she was very special to you. Your family continues to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Anessa

A piece of my heart is gone with Danica... She has always been a true friend and inspiration to me. I am a better person and mother because of Danica, she taught me through her example how to love irregardless of imperfection. She took care of me through some of the toughest moments in my life, and I am very sorry I wasn't able to be there for her in the end, to return the favor and hold her hand too. She was so intelligent. I will never forget the tenderness she showed towards me & my siblings from cooking and caring for us to helping us figure out algebra problems for school, or challenging us at a game of jeopardy. She was as loving as her plethora of knowledge. Danica had a caring soul. I will never forget her or how she was always there for me. She had a profound impact upon my life. Danica, I will always love you - you will be missed.

We are so sorry to hear that Danica has passed away. We knew her for a couple of years and thought she was such a sweet heart. She was funny, kind and always ready to help out. Our prayers and condolences go out to her husband and her family. We will keep her in our thoughts and prayers.

Fred and Joan Barela