Mary Martha Harty was born February 16, 1920, in Pierre, South Dakota, the daughter of Owen and Georga (Gittings) Harty. Weighing only 2 ½ pounds at birth, she was named for the nun who saved her life, Sister Mary Martha.

Her early years were spent with her parents, travelling where her dad, a construction worker, found employment. She spent her pre-teen and early teen years around Milesville with her beloved grandparents Jody and Mary Gittings, her Uncle Lawrence, and cousins. Mary Martha graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell, South Dakota. She then attended National Business College in Rapid City and later Presentation College in Aberdeen. During this time, she developed her singing voice, and sang for numerous weddings and funerals in the area.

She worked at Wall Drug and later taught school in Milesville and Grindstone area before joining the United States Navy in 1944. She served nearly two years during WWII, before being honorably discharged in 1946.

She returned to Philip, and worked for a local lawyer until her marriage to Bernard Burns on February 2, 1952; and to this union were born five children. Upon the youngest child entering school, Mary went back to work as Deputy Assessor.

After Bernard’s death in 1968, she moved her family to Spearfish where began a new chapter in her family’s life, working as an office manager for a trucking company. In 1978, Mary moved to Rapid City when the company was bought by American Freightway. She worked for them until her retirement in 1985.

Her family was always priority, whether immediate or a distant cousin. She welcomed every new member, either by birth or by marriage, with love and enthusiasm, and always remembered birthdays and anniversaries.

Mary Martha was always proud and honored to have served her country in the Navy, and was a 65-year member of the American Legion. She served as the first female Legion Commander in the state of South Dakota, and also as chaplain of American Legion Post #173 of Philip. She continued her membership in American Legion Post #22 when she moved to Rapid City. In 2010, Mary was thrilled to be a part of the Honor Flight, travelling to Washington, DC with other WWII veterans.

During her retirement years, Mary was one of the original Senior Companions, assisting and driving the elderly to appointments and everyday tasks (although most of the time her clients were younger than she was!) She loved to bake, play cards, and travelled extensively, visiting family and making friends everywhere she went. In addition to her love for singing, she also tremendously enjoyed the gift of music.

Grateful for having shared her life include four children LuAnn Rohrer and her husband Rich, Michael “Mike” Burns and his wife Margie, and James “Jim” Burns, all of Rapid City, and Kathy Wood and her husband Mark of Colorado Springs, Colorado; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mary Martha was preceded in death by her husband Bernard Wesley Burns in 1968; her son Mark Owen Burns in 2014, and her parents.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 11, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City, with Father Ed Vanorny as celebrant.

Interment with military honors will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 11, at the Black Hills National Cemetery.