William "Bill" Marty, Jr., was born September 14, 1925, in Spearfish to William and Ruth L. (Phipps) Marty, Sr. He grew up and lived on the Marty Ranch, which he enjoyed and was proud of until July 2013, and then retired at the Country Assisted Living in Belle Fourche, due to health. He remained there until his death, with family by his side.

Bill went to grade school at the Marty-Granpre School on the Marty Ranch. He graduated from Spearfish High School and attended one year of college at Black Hills College at the young age of 16. He came back to the Marty Ranch and went into partnership with his father and brother, John Marty, raising sheep and Hereford cattle. When his dad retired, they raised only Herefords and were one of the few and last ranches to sell three year old steers.

Bill was very well known for his personality and humor. He was born with a natural talent for drawing and art. He drew cartoons of real life experiences of friends and family. It was easy for him to tell the story in a picture. He drew hundreds of pictures and gave them to friends and relatives which are precious to everyone. Bill was awarded the Northwest Ranch Cowboy's Rodeo Assoc. Cartoonist of the year for several years, and received several awards in high school and college. He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Belle Fourche and a Master Mason and Eastern Star, Pasque Lodge in Bison for nearly 65 years, and was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church at Zeona.

Bill married Shirley Maxine Wells from Fifty-Six, AR, on November 17, 1944. They had one son, William Jesse Marty, who remains on the ranch; a
daughter, Ruth Ann Marty-Sprague, who lives northwest of Mud Butte on a ranch; and granddaughter, Melissa Ann Marty and great-granddaughter, Ella Mia Marty of Beresford, SD.

Bill built a roping/barrel racing arena on the ranch for Jesse and Ruth Ann. Friends and neighbors gathered on Wednesday evenings and Sunday
afternoons for roping and pot lucks, which gave everyone wonderful memories. Bill and Maxine enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, and
dancing. They were actively involved in and supported Jesse in track and football, and Ruth Ann in rodeo. He loved taking his family to the Slim
Buttes for picnics, going to movies, fishing, hunting, sledding, ice skating, and spending time with them as they were growing up. He made everything fun.

Bill, 88, Prairie City, died Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at Country Senior Living in Belle Fourche.

He is survived by his wife of 69 ½ years, Maxine; one son, William Jesse (Mary Lee) Marty; daughter, Ruth Ann (Dale) Sprague; grand-daughter,
Melissa Ann Marty (Todd Schick); and great-granddaughter, Ella Mia Marty; a sister, Ruth Marie Blair of Ekalaka, MT; and sister-in-law, Helen Marty of Spearfish; nieces and nephews, Jerry Wells, Sam Marty, Mary Lou Marty, Liz May, Grace Blair, Tom Blair, and Doris Matz; step-grandchildren, Randy Russell, Delana Nelson, and Chuck Russell; and several step-greatgrandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Doris Marty; and brother, John Marty.

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