Martha C. Koopman was born February 25, 1906, in northeast Nebraska, near Pender, to John and Caroline (Koester) Koopman.

She was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, a rural church near Pender, Nebraska.  She grew up and received her education in the Pender area.

Martha was united in marriage to Ben Paulsen on February 24, 1926, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church near Pender.

They farmed north of Wicksville, South Dakota, for several years before moving to a ranch south of New Underwood, which they operated in partnership with Ben's sister and her husband.  After a severe hail storm that year, they moved to a farm near the Owanka, South Dakota, area, which they operated until 1941 when they moved to New Underwood.

In 1949 they moved to a large stock ranch near Quinn, which they opearted until 1953 when they purchased a farm near Quinn.  They continued to own and opearte the farm until retiring in 1965 and moving into Wall.  While in Wall, Martha worked for several years at a motel.

Her husband preceded her in death on April 22, 1973.  She has continued to make her home in Wall.

Martha was a member of the First Lutheran Church, was an active member of the Ladies' Aid and the LWML, which made quilts for the World Relief, etc.

She was a 25 year member of the Cheerful Chums Homemakers Extension Club, the Wall Senior Citizens Center, and the "Grandma's" Whist Club.

Grateful for having shared her life are her two sons and their wives, Donald and Joan Paulsen of Rapid City, and Delmar and Mary Paulsen of Quinn; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ann Berner of Norfolk, Nebraska, and Frieda Hasel of Hendricks, Minnesota; one brother, Henry Koopman of Hubbard, Nebraska; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Ben, she was preceded in death by one son, Marvin; one grandson; four sisters; and two brothers.

A memorial is established to the First Lutheran Church of Wall.

Services
Thursday, May 16, 1996
2:00 p.m.
First Lutheran Church
Wall, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Ray Greenseth

Music
Rhonda Mettler - Organist
Congregational Hymns
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
"Blessed Be The Tie That Binds"
Choir - "How Great Thou Art"

Ushers
Jim Pahl - Norman Eisenbraun

Active Pallbearers
Lowell Paulsen - Jess Getz
Darren Paulsen - Thomas Paulsen
Al Paulsen - Amos Votroubek

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota