Carol was born, January 4, 1946, in Boulder Sanitarium to Charles and Esther (Evey) Martin. She was the third of eight children. Although she was born in Boulder, she lived in Newcastle, WY, with the rest of her family. Carol and her siblings went to the Seventh Day Adventist Church School in Newcastle. She went on to academy at Platte Valley Academy where she was introduced into young adulthood. One teacher stands out from that time, Gayle Rhodes, and one friend, Vi Chaney, who was her best friend for life. She was very intelligent. This was often hidden by her shy personality, but on her Iowa tests, she came in at 96%. Carol enjoyed working on her family genealogy, researching courthouse documents and meeting with people about family, and writing several books on her family history. She was devoted to children, especially babies, using the same way of talking to them she learned from her mother.

Carol had many accomplishments. She went to Ashfield, North Carolina, to receive an award for employee of the year while working for the Juvenile Detention Center in Rapid City, but the greatest testament of her dedication came from some of the youths who ran into her around town, who all expressed their appreciation for her work with them, and she never forgot their names. She was also well liked on her mail route, which she ran until her stroke in 2012.

Carol Bloom, 71, Rapid City, died Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at her home in Rapid City.

Grateful for sharing Carol's life are her husband, Jim Bloom, Rapid City; their two sons, David (Sara) Bloom and Jeff Bloom; two granddaughters, Grace Carol and Dakota Jacqueline; one sister, Lisa; three brothers, Warren (Kathy) Martin, MD, Ronnie Martin, Edgemont, SD, and Charles (Rita) Martin, Cheyenne, WY; and many nieces and nephews and their children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Trish and Linda; and one brother, John.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Sunday, May 28, 2017, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Rapid City.

Carol will be laid to rest at the Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle, WY.