Laura Ada Martin, 94, Belle Fourche, died Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at the Belle Fourche Health Care Community.

Laura was born April 30, 1921, in Portsmouth, England, to Arthur and Laura (Steel) Fleming. She grew up and attended school in Portsmouth. During WWII, she served in the Women's Royal Navy attaining the rank of Leading Wren. Laura was naturalized as a U.S. citizen on April 27, 1955.

On July 22, 1944, she married Charles Hawken in Portsmouth. He passed away in 1989. On January 17, 1997, she married Carroll Martin in Loughlin, NV, and he passed away on June 15, 2002. Laura worked at the JC Penny store and also at Cliff Thomas Drug Store in Belle Fourche, and was a former member of the Moose Club in Belle Fourche.

Laura is survived by two nephews, Ron Purdy and Alan Purdy, both of Portsmouth, England; four step-children, Tim Martin and Terry Martin both of Yakima WA, Don Martin, Olympia, WA, and Molly Martin, San Francisco, CA; and two good friends, Jody and Cathy Grubb, Belle Fourche, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Laura Fleming; two husbands, Charles Hawken and Carroll Martin; and one sister, Edna May Purdy.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Father Bunker Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

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