Martha Ruth Heinert was born November 27, 1921 at Parmelee, South Dakota to Chris and Annatte (Reister) Heinert.

Martha was baptized and confirmed in St. John's Lutheran Church at Parmelee.  She grew up on a farm in the Parmelee area and attended Reiss Country School and Parmelee High School.

Martha was united in marriage to Elmer Hanson on December 1, 1939 at Parmelee, South Dakota.

They made their home on a farm and ranch near Norris until the spring of 1954 when they moved to a farm near Hurley, South Dakota.  In the fall of 1954 they returned to western South Dakota where they farmed and ranched north of Kadoka.  In 1963 they started a buffalo herd with three buffalo and built the herd to 80 head.

Because of health reasons, she moved into the Kadoka Nursing Home in 1981.

Her husband preceded her in death on September 22, 1986.

Martha attended the Presbyterian Church of Kadoka where she also taught Sunday School for several years.  Some of her favorite past times were playing the piano, cooking and socially entertaining family and friends.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, Jerry Hanson and his wife, Jacque, of Douglas, Wyoming; three daughters, Charlene Sieler and her husband, Gary, of Kadoka, Joanna Stone and her husband, Richard, of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Sheryl Stroppel of Kadoka, South Dakota; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Walt Heinert of Parmelee, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Elmer, she was preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial has been established.

Services
Saturday, August 20, 1994
2:00 p.m.
Presbyterian Church
Kadoka, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Gary McCubbin
Reverend Eugene Bushnell

Music
Jean Weller - Organist
Travis Hanson - Vocalist

Ushers
Duane Letellier - Marvis Letellier

Active Pallbearers
Rocky Sieler - Scott Sieler
Jeff Stone - Randy Stone
Travis Hanson - Greg Uhlir
Howard Heinert - Ronald Jenssen
Ray Maczuga - Cash Hogen

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota