Martha Rankin, of Fort Pierre, passed away Dec. 25, 2009, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre. Her children and grandchildren were all there with her for Christmas Eve.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Services will be at 11 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 30, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre, with burial at Draper Cemetery.

Martha Geraldine Rankin was born June 19, 1933, in Murdo to Anfin and Inger (Sletto) Haugland. She grew up on a ranch south of Draper and graduated from Murdo schools in 1951. She attended Yankton College where she competed nationally on the oral interpretation and debate team before graduating in 1955 with a degree in speech and education and a minor in English.

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Martha was united in marriage to Clifford Rankin on June 18, 1955, in Draper. She was employed as a high school teacher at Draper High School. In 1967, Martha and Clifford moved to Fort Pierre where she taught at Stanley County Middle and High Schools. Her true interest was in English and journalism and she had many students who won awards for oral interpretation and yearbook. Martha worked with husband Clifford to own and operate Rankin Implement in Draper, Fort Pierre and Wall. She worked various office positions throughout the Pierre-Fort Pierre area, including the Capital University Center, South Dakota State Legislature and Stanley County States Attorney office. She was also an entrepreneur who operated several small businesses.

Martha enjoyed playing bridge and Mah Jong, traveling, judging student speech contests and meeting people.

She was also very active in the community as a member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), the SD Historical Society, R.S.V.P. (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), Zonta, the Verendrye Museum Board and the Dakota Prairie Bank Board. She also volunteered at the Heritage Store in the Cultural Heritage Center and served on the Commission on Judicial Qualifications.

Martha developed many special friendships through her activities and enjoyed the quality time spent socializing with friends.

Music was very important to Martha. She was a member of the Saint John’s Catholic Church where she frequently played the organ and occasionally joined the choir. She also taught piano lessons for many years in her home to local children.

Martha’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by son. James (Wendy) Rankin, of Athens, Ohio; daughters, Stacy (Bill) Ellwanger, of Pierre, and Jeri (Tony) Wageman, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; sister, Linda (Dave) Brost, of Draper; step-brother, Dr. Tom Looby (Marv), of Sioux Falls; Brazilian foreign exchange daughter, Lidia Brandao; and seven grandchildren, Kara, Anna, and Daniel Rankin, Whitney and Will Ellwanger, and Kirsten and Aaron Wageman. She is also survived by four sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford; her parents; and stepmother, Iris.

A memorial fund will be established at Dakota Prairie Bank, PO Box 158, Draper, SD, 57531.