Martindale's career, going, going, gone

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 7/2/25

Brad Martindale grew up in the auction business. Now, at age 75, he feels he is ready to move on.

“Times are changing and young people are not coming to auctions to buy,” Martindale said. “Older people are still coming, but it continues to be harder to sell each week.”

Brad Martindale, right, conducts his last live auction Saturday at the sale barn he has used for 25 years south of Fremont in Inglewood.

The Martindale family moved to North Bend in 1959 when Glenn Martindale, Brad’s dad, purchased the sale barn in North Bend. Brad was in fourth grade, and he would help out in the sale barn by cleaning pens.

“When there was a horse sale the guys would bring their horses and trim them up,” Brad Martindale said. “My job was to sweep up the horse hairs and put it in a gunny sacks and a fellow would buy the horse hair for making rope.”

After a year his dad went out on his own in North Bend and Martindale would help on auctions, taking bids and getting personal property lined up.

Martindale graduated from North Bend High School in 1967 and went for two years to University of Nebraska–Lincoln before joining the Navy Reserve.

In 1970 he married Kathy Widhelm of Dodge, and they lived in Oakland, California, while he finished his Navy commitment.

They returned to North Bend in September 1972. Martindale worked for Paul Heywood at the grocery store until starting his real estate business. He went in the real estate business with his dad in 1973 then in 1980 started working with him in the auctions.

“We handled all types of auctions,” Martindale said, “including farm equipment, construction equipment, household and antiques. All auctions were on the premises. My dad kept telling me that there would be a day when we needed a building for people to come in, sit down and be comfortable during the auction.”

In 1990 Doris Martindale, Brad’s mom, retired from doing the office work and Kathy took over as the clerk and secretary. All of their children, Brenda, Tina, Jason, Katie and Beth have worked at auctions at different times.

In 2000 they built the auction building in south of Fremont in Inglewood, which has been successful.

But times are changing. In addition to the decrease in participants and the increased popularity of online auctions, labor is difficult to find for packing, loading and hauling items to the Martindale building. These were all factors in his decision to retire from the auction business.

“There is no one to take over the auction business the way we have been doing it,” Martindale said.

Saturday, June 28, was the date of the last auction held at the Martindale Auction Building in Inglewood. Brad was handling the inside auction and Lloyd Brichacek was outside calling the second line.

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