Martinez "Marty" Cortez

Martinez “Marty” Martel Cortez returned to his Creator on January 20, 2026, at his home in Fort Hall, Idaho. Martinez was born to Bill R. and Venus (Pocatello) Cortez on July 19, 1953, in Pocatello, Idaho. He spent several years as a child living with his paternal grandparents Wille and Maude (Jake) Cortez, Fort Hall, Idaho and attended elementary school there. He then lived in Elko, Nevada and attended high school there.

He attended trade school after high school and was a certified heavy equipment operator, he worked in that field and as a maintenance technician for Indian Health Services at Fort Hall, Idaho until 1995. Marty entered the United States Army in 1979 and was a tank driver during his service. He then served eight years with the National Guard.

Marty was the father of three children. Ria Cortez was born at Elko, Nevada to his relationship with Vicki Belka, and Maurica and Robert Cortez were born at Warm Springs, Oregon to his relationship with Minnie Charley. Marty was an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the fifth great grandson of Chief Pocatello, for whom the City of Pocatello was named. He was a fluent Shoshone speaker and dedicated to his people and the traditions and continuity of the Tribes. He was very close to his maternal grandparents LaSalle and Louella (Tetobee) Pocatello and cared for them and their home and stock for many years.

He was Chief, at both Bannock Peak and Ruby Valley Sun Dances, and supported Sun Dances at Ross Fork and Buffalo Lodge in Fort Hall, as well as Fort Washakie, Wyoming. He was instrumental in reviving the (Ghost) Circle Dance at Fort Hall, supporting traditional carriers Virgene (Tesheep), Hardy and Howard Hardy and Marlene Durant. He was the caretaker to the Pocatello Family War Bonnet and took part in the Bonnet Dance supporting the children of his dear friends and relatives, James and Norma Osborne; Gifferd Osborne and Kimberly “Numi” Osborne.

He supported his tribal members through his dedication to these practices and cared for and provided a healing sweat lodge for all, giving of himself to encourage the youth and to honor his elders and ancestors. He was often called upon to pray for community and longdistance friends and family and enjoyed and thrived on these times. 

Marty appreciated traveling and meeting with friends and family wherever he went and enjoyed events in his life wholeheartedly. He took the opportunity for a role portraying guide Toby in a movie about Lewis and Clark, which unfortunately was never completed but he had a great time, travelled to Canada and greatly enjoyed the experience.

He worked with sculptor J.D. Adcox as he created the Chief Pocatello statue located in Pocatello, ID, and also with artist Tal Sampson and his Chief Pocatello painting, which is displayed in both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Council Chambers as well as in the City of Pocatello City Chambers. Both experiences gave him great pride in his ancestors and his family, and he dedicated many hours to both endeavors.

Marty is survived by his wife Lynn, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, two of which he assisted in raising, stepchildren Jennifer and Myles Gallardo and their four children JD,(Miriah) Tony, (Sami) Louisa and Dylan, nephews and nieces Nathan, Ray and Phillip, Cary, Lisa and Danielle Wadsworth, with their children, who have been part of his home over the years, daughter Ria Cortez and her children with Clifford Button, Clifford Jr., Loreal and Alina, daughter Maurica and her children, son Robert, brothers Kenneth (Hodo) his son Greg and children, Deloy (Big D), his daughter Ashley and children, sisters Yvonne and son Deloyd, his son, Marlene and her daughter Yolanda (Beave) and her children, son Adrian, sister Marietta and sons Wayne and William and their children. He was especially close with his Nagashoah brothers Lester, Darrell and Moki and sister Vernita, and enjoyed his times with his Holliday cousins.

Marty will be taken to his home for traditional services and viewing on Thursday, January 22, 2026. A prayer service will be held Friday, January 23, 2026 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and burial will be at Cedars Cemetery at 2:00pm Saturday January 24, 2026. Marty is greatly loved and will be forever remembered and missed for all he was and did.