Martha Waddell

Graveside services for Martha Waddell, 99, of Isabel were held Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at the Hillview Cemetery at Isabel under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Martha passed away July 10, 2021 at Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.

Martha (Fuhrer) Waddell, daughter of Albert and Emma (Korb) Fuhrer, was born April 3, 1922 at Isabel. 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, 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, MT, where she worked as a waitress for four years. She then headed to California, where she worked in a factory as a spot welder on B-24 war planes. She worked there until World War II ended in 1944. She then returned to Isabel and went to work at Robeck Drug Store, where she met Richard (Dick) Waddell. 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. 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 daughters’ 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.

Martha is survived by her three daughters - Mary (Keith) Dorsey of Isabel, Marge (Pat) Alley of Pagosa Springs, CO, and Micki (Barry) Hutchinson of Dakota Dunes; 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; a brother Raymond Fuhrer; sister-in-law Elaine Fuhrer; brother-in-law Larry Christensen and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard; her parents; four brothers, Leonard, Gilbert, Floyd, and Frank Fuhrer; an infant brother Vern; and sisters Helen Bertsch and Dora Christensen.

(Mary Dorsey’s address is PO Box 54, Isabel, SD 57633.)