Dena Bertelson, daughter of Daniel and Juliana (Hauge) Bertelson, was born April 26, 1894, on her parents' farm near Lake Mills, Iowa.  

She lived near Lake Mills until 1906 when she moved to her mother's homestead two miles west of Midland, South Dakota, on the Bad River.  She came to Midland with her sister, Amanda, on the new railroad.

Dena loved the prairie and rode horseback for endless miles and competed in many ladies' horse races at the annual Midland 4th of July celebrations.

She attended grade school in Midland and also at the James Nelson home and then attended high school at Forest City, Iowa, and later at the new high school in Midland, South Dakota.

When she was 18, Dena began a teaching career that spanned many years, teaching in the country schools around the Midland territory.  She also homesteaded near the Moenville, South Dakota, area.

Dena was united in marriage to Henry Martin on October 14, 1916, at Kadoka, South Dakota, and to this union six children were born.

The Martin family lived on farms near Moenville, Canning, and Midland before moving to a farm 14 miles north of Midland in the spring of 1928.  They farmed there until retiring and moving into Midland in 1955.

Her husband preceded her in death in 1978, and she continued to make her home in Midland.

Dena was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and Ruth's Circle of the ALCW.  She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #143, the Midland Senior Citizens, and the Round Robin of the Midland High School, all of Midland, and also the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Grateful for having share her life are her two sons, Herbert Martin of Franklin Park, Illinois, and Albert "Fuzz" Martin of Faith, South Dakota; three daughters, Mrs. Curtis (Thelma) Anderson and Mrs. Shorty (Mickey) Wiotte, both of Midland, and Mrs. J.E. (Juliana) Sanford of Minneapolis, Minnesota; 29 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Henry, she was preceded in death by one son, Henry Martin, Jr.; one great-granddaughter in infancy; her parents; three brothers, Albert, Edward, and Alvin; and two sisters, Bertina Myrland and Amanda Steien.

Services
Thursday, August 14, 1986
2:00 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church 
Midland, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Bob Snitzer

Music
Marlis Doud - Organist
Jessica Dale - Vocalist
Lennard Blucher - Vocalist

Ushers
Jerry Engelhaupt - George Stroppel

Active Pallbearers and
Honorary Pallbearers
All of the Grandsons

Interment
Midland Cemetery
Midland, South Dakota