Martha Waddell April 13, 1922 - July 10, 2021
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jul 12, 2021 | 11:56 AM / 334 views
Graveside services for Martha Waddell, 99, of Isabel will be at 10 AM, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at the Hillview Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 4 PM Tuesday at the United Church of Christ in Isabel with a prayer service at 5 PM. Martha passed away Saturday, July 10, 2021 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.
Martha (Fuhrer) Waddell, daughter of Albert and Emma (Korb) Fuhrer was born April 3, 1922 at Isabel, SD. She was raised on a farm south of Isabel along with her seven siblings.
Times were hard and at the age of 15 Martha left home and moved to Dupree, SD where she went to work for a beautician for room and board and fifty cents a week.
Three years later Martha took a train to Baker, Montana where she worked as a waitress for four years. Martha then headed to California where she worked in a factory as a spot welder on the B-24 war planes. She worked as a spot welder until the war ended in 1944. She then returned to Isabel and went to work at Robeck Drug Store. It is in the drug store where she met Richard (Dick). She thought he was very handsome and always gave him an extra scoop of ice cream when he ordered a milk shake.
Dick and Martha eloped on July 24, 1948. Martha said they had more fun keeping their elopement a secret, than they would have had planning a wedding. From this union, three daughters were born; Mary, Marge, and Micki. Dick and Martha made their home on a ranch north of Isabel, along Firesteel Creek.
Dick and Martha were married for 68 years. They retired in 1986, and built a home in Isabel, SD. Richard passed away October 27, 2016, at the age of 94.
Martha was known for her beautiful hand stitched quilts and her delicious baked goods. Her desserts were always sought after at potlucks and bake sales. She was a beautiful seamstress, sewing most of her daughter’s clothes, including their prom dresses. She was a devoted member of the U.C.C. Church and active in Eastern Star. Martha was a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Martha moved to Prairie Sunset Village in Mobridge in 2013 and resided there until August 2019 when she moved to Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD. She resided there until her death on July 10, 2021.
Martha is survived by daughters, Mary (Keith) Dorsey, of Isabel, SD, Marge (Pat) Alley of Pagosa Springs, CO, and Micki (Barry) Hutchinson of Dakota Dunes, SD, grandchildren, Jim Bob Dorsey, Danae (Tyson) Paxton, Deon (Krystal) Dorsey, Clint (Monica) Alley, Heather (Josh) Harris, Nicki (Tim) Smith, Brock (Maxine) Hutchinson and Richard (Allison) Hutchinson, 17 great- grandchildren, brother, Raymond Fuhrer, sister-in-law Elaine Fuhrer, brother-in-law Larry Christensen and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by husband Richard, her parents, four brothers, Leonard, Gilbert, Floyd, and Frank Fuhrer, and infant brother Vern, two sisters, Helen Bertsch and Dora Christensen.
Martha’s family is grateful for all the care providers and medical staff who cared for her during her stay at Prairie Sunset Village and Five Counties Nursing Home.
Following the service, join us at the church for food and fellowship.