Martha Merkel, age 89, of Huron, SD passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at the SunQuest Healthcare Center in Huron, SD.

Her funeral service will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the American Lutheran Church in Huron, SD, with burial at the Restlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Friday, February 8, 2019 with family present from 5-7 PM at Welter Funeral Home; or one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. A Prayer Service will begin at 6:30 PM on Friday at Welter Funeral Home in Huron.

Martha Schuler, the daughter of Edward F. and Martha (Bieber) Schuler, was born on January 20, 1930 in Pollock, SD.  She attended elementary school in Artas, SD and graduated from Aberdeen High School.  Martha worked as a waitress, a sales associate for Simmens Clothing, and as a dental assistant, but the most important career she had was that of homemaker.

Martha married George F. Merkel on October 30, 1955 in Aberdeen, SD.  They lived in Aberdeen, SD, and Gettysburg, SD before moving to Huron, SD.

Martha was a member of the American Lutheran Church.  She was also a member of the Domestic Engineers, the County Extension Club, and the American Lutheran Church Women's Circle.  Martha enjoyed sewing and collecting and reading cookbooks.

Grateful for having shared in Martha's life are her husband, George of Huron, SD; her children, Karla (Dave) Wells of Loveland, CO and David (Carrie) Merkel of Billings, MT; five grandchildren: Christopher, Curtis, Kristina Wells, and Brooke and Tyler Merkel; two step-grandchildren, Lori and Travis; great-grandchildren, Kaylynn, Jorianna, and Charlottie Wells; brother-in-law Jim (Stella) Merkel and sister-in-law Mary Jane Oster; and several nieces and nephews.

Martha was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; three brothers: Edward (Viola) Schuler, Walter (Alma) Schuler, and Arthur Schuler; sister, Emma (Robert) Hawley; three sisters-in-law; and a brother-in-law.