Wallace Anthony Nicholas Edward Marthaller, known to friends and family as Wally or “WAM,” passed away at his Longview home on February 1, 2026. He was 91 years old.

Born on December 6, 1934, in Shaw, Oregon, to Anton and Delphine Marthaller, Wally grew up helping to build what became a well-known family enterprise. The Marthaller family’s Longview Mint Farm, established in 1935, became a local fixture spanning several generations. The farm produced cattle, hay, sweet corn, and peppermint oil that supplied markets across the region until 1980.

Marthaller went on to operate several businesses that employed local residents, including Marthaller Trucking and Solo Leasing, which he managed alongside his son Nick. He was also known for pioneering cottonwood harvesting for the pulp and paper industry, helping connect local agricultural production with broader regional manufacturing operations. His career took him across the Northwest, managing log yards from Longview and Astoria to Lewiston, Idaho.

Family and colleagues remember Marthaller as a man deeply connected to the land and industry that shaped southwest Washington’s economy. Even after retirement, he kept an enduring interest in vintage farm machinery, heavy equipment, and western novels—and was seldom without his signature bottle of peppermint oil.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Janice Marthaller; children Nick, Toni Andersen, Marty Marthaller, Marcia Menten, Jeff Marthaller, Jerry Bryan, Scott Bryan, and Michelle Plocharsky; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dolores, and his grandson Anton.

A public celebration of life will be held on March 7, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Longview Moose Lodge. Those wishing to honor Wally’s memory may direct donations to the Washington Farmland Trust or the Southwest Washington Humane Society. Additional details are available at Classic Hits 100.7 KLOG.