HURON Stanley Martens, age 101, of Huron and formerly of Wessington, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025 at Avantara in Huron.
His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., on Friday, March 28, at Wessington Presbyterian Church in Wessington with burial to follow in the Wessington Cemetery.
Visitation, with his family present, will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at Welter Funeral Home with a prayer service and time of sharing to begin at 6:30 Thursday evening; or visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday afternoon.
Stanley Emil Martens was born in Wessington, South Dakota, at the Wessington Hospital/Drake Hotel on August 17, 1923, to Emil and Martha (Moller) Martens. Stan spent his first 11 years on a farm north of Wessington. When Stan was 11, his father hitched the hay wagon full of household goods and told Stan to drive it to their new place, five miles south and three miles west of Wessington. It was in this area that he would reside for the next 70 years.
After graduating from Wessington High School, Stan farmed with his father until he met and married his wife, Mary Louise Thompson. Stan and Mary Lou were married on July 18, 1948. To this union, three sons were born: Stephen, Robert and Scott. Stan and Mary Lou purchased the Tom Tucker ranch, seven miles south and two miles west of Wessington, and moved to their home on that windblown hill. On Sept. 11, 1978, Mary Lou passed from this vale of tears.
Stanley was a cattleman more than a farmer, so when the time was right, he sold his dairy cattle, planted his land to hay, and started to live his lifelong passion of ranching. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 70 years, advancing through the stations of the Lodge and using the lessons he learned there in his everyday life. Active in the First Presbyterian Church of Wessington, he served as a trustee, a deacon and as a member of many committees. Stan, with help from Donna Noyes and many others, worked hard to see a new Presbyterian Church built in Wessington.
Stan was active in the Solo Parent organization and was named National Solo Father of the Year in 1986. He traveled the world, saw many countries, and made many friends along the way. He said that his favorite trip was the African safari.
Stanley is survived by his three sons, Stephen Martens of Huron (and special friend Pamela Young), Robert Martens of Brooklyn Center, Minn., and Scott (Mary Haeder) Martens of Watertown; as well as 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild (and one on the way); Honorary Son and Daughter, Gibb and Stephanie Rodgers of Wessington; and a host of friends and relatives.
Stanley was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Martha Martens; his wife, Mary Louise (Thompson) Martens; his sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy (Martens) and David Gilliland; a niece, Marilyn (Gilliland) Legg; a niece Dorothy Jean Gilliland, a nephew, Alan Gilliland; a daughter-in-law, LaVilla Martens; his special friend and companion for many years, Joan Hull; most of his cousins and many of his friends.
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