Maxine "Mac Marty was born March 15, 1925, near Dupree, SD, to Jesse and Anna (Hovland) Wells. When Maxine was a child, her family moved from South Dakota to Arkansas. She spent her youth growing up near Fifty Six, Arkansas, where she attended grade school and high school and was an outstanding athlete at both baseball and basketball. She and her sister, Helen, were all-state basketball champs with Maxine playing forward.

Shortly after moving back to South Dakota, the Wells family visited some relatives who lived south of the Marty Ranch. In what turned out to be a life shaping event, the relatives took the family to the Marty Ranch where the Wells sisters were introduced to two young men who would later become their husbands, the Marty brothers.

On November 17, 1944, Maxine Wells and William "Bill" Marty were married in Baker, MT. To this union, two children were born: William Jesse and Ruth Ann. Maxine was a ranch wife on the Marty ranch her entire married life until the passing of her beloved husband, Bill, in 2014. With changing conditions and needs, she moved to Belle Estate Senior Living in Belle Fourche.

During her lifetime on the ranch, Maxine worked tirelessly and was willing to make any personal sacrifice in support of her family and the ranching operation. Her day usually began before anyone else was up and ended long after the sun went down. She enjoyed the best of times and endured the worst of times with the same positive attitude. If there was a silver lining to be found, she would find it.

Maxine loved caring for her band of sheep, her flock of chickens, and tending her garden. She was very self-reliant and rarely had a need to go to town in the early years as she did her own canning of vegetables and meat and she made homemade jellies and jams. When the family had milk cows, she would separate the milk using the cream to make homemade cream puffs and ice cream. In addition to her household responsibilities, she was always ready to help out with the ranch work.

Her baking and cooking skills were unmatched and she was well known for making homemade pies and crusts that would melt in your mouth and cakes made from scratch. Ever the gracious hostess, she had the coffee pot on for anybody who stopped by and they could count on being served a freshly baked pie, cake, cobbler, or cookies. She had a constant smile, an easy laugh, and a fondness for conversation that made visitors feel welcome and relaxed.

Maxine had a competitive, yet friendly, spirit and found pleasure in playing cards, marbles, and checkers. She and her brother, Errol, would sometimes stay up all night playing checkers using a kerosene lantern for light, and she would usually win. Maxine excelled at any sport she participated in and was an avid bowler and golfer, winning numerous trophies in both. She also enjoyed fishing and was an excellent shot with a rifle. Animals of every type brought a joy to her heart and she was never without a dog and cat in her loving care. Even on those occasions when a wild cat might wander in, it didn't stay wild for long as she had a special connection and devotion to animals and children.

When her children were young, she would make her outstanding potato salad, fried chicken, and all the trimmings. Then, she and Bill would take the kids to the Slim Buttes for a picnic where they had fun rolling rocks off the rim and waiting and listening for them to hit the bottom. Maxine and Bill also took them skating, sledding, fishing, snowmobiling, and climbing Sheep Mt. With Maxine's involvement, you could always count on a wonderful and fun time.

She encouraged and worked with her two children, Jesse and Ruth Ann, in their school activities and sports throughout high school and college. Their house became a hangout for the other high school kids who were completely at ease there and knew the attention they received would probably include a good meal. She and Bill never missed an activity of their son or daughter in high school or college. In later years, Maxine demonstrated a similar love and interest in her precious granddaughter, Melissa's activities. She would travel numerous miles to attend her track meets, and tutored and practiced softball with her in the summer months. Even when she was in her 80's, Maxine still enjoyed playing ball with the youngsters and could surprise them with her athletic ability.

Maxine had an instinctive ability to talk to kids, listen to matters they considered important, and then offer guidance without letting them know she was giving advice. A group of children, now grown with kids of their own, remember "Aunt Mac" driving them over gravel roads to Belle Fourche to see their first movie about a boy and his dog. They cried all the way home because "Old Yeller" died. Maxine didn't tell them not to cry or that it wasn't okay to cry. She just kept talking to them and, in the end, they were okay because "Aunt Mac" made it okay. Love, patience, and understanding were the hallmarks of her character and her manner was tender and sweet. She was truly a gift to all who knew her.

Maxine was baptized, confirmed, and a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church at Zeona, a member of the Eastern Star and Past Worthy Matron, Fairview Chapter, since 1953, VFW Auxiliary member, and a member of the Lutheran Church Women.

Shirley "Maxine" Marty, age 91, passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at Belle Estate Senior Living in Belle Fourche, SD.

She is survived by her son, William Jesse Marty (Mary Lee), living near Spearfish, SD; her daughter, Ruth Ann Marty-Sprague (Dale), living on a ranch NW of Mud Butte, SD; her granddaughter, Melissa Ann Marty (Todd Schick) and her great-granddaughter, Ella Mia Marty, all living near Whitewood, SD; her sister, Helen Marty, living in Spearfish, SD; and nephews and nieces, Jerry Wells, Sam Marty, Mary Lou Marty, Elizabeth "Dinky" May, Grace Blair, Tom Blair, and Doris Matz.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Errol Wells; and her husband of 69 1/2 years, Bill.

God has called home a dearly loved angel

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 14, 2016, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis, SD, with Pastors Marcia Brennan and Randy Bradley officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Sorum and Castle Rock Fire Department and Hospice of the Northern Hills.

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