Funeral services for Martin Mickelson, age 81, of Mound City will be 10:00 AM Saturday, July 20, 2013 at Norway Lutheran Church rural Glenham. Burial will be in Norway Lutheran Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Friday, July 19, 2013 2PM to 7:30 PM with a prayer service at 7:30 PM at Kesling Funeral Home. Martin passed away Monday, July 15, 2013 at Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Martin Gilbert Mickelson was born October 11, 1931 to Michael and Bertina (Rufdal ) in rural Campbell county. He grew up on the farm with his parents attending country school and then attended Ag School in Brookings and Mechanic School in Fargo. He always said his folks gave him the check book and sent him on the bus. He managed from there. He was then employed as a mechanic in Mound City. He joined the United States Air Force in November of 1950. He was then stationed at Landstuhl Air Base in Germany, where he was an assistant fire chief and later a Staff Sergeant. There he met Beatrice Ries, they were married January 27, 1955. Martin was honorably discharged in September of 1955 at which time they returned to rural Herreid.

The couple moved to Fargo ND in 1956. April of 1957 they moved back to the family farm to farm with his father and help care for his mother. Martin eventually purchased the farm from his parents in 1961 and continued farming. Martin and Beatrice adopted two sons Gilbert and Perry. Martin was a member of the Pollock school board and worked for the Mound City FSA office. Fall of 1988 he and his wife moved to Mound City SD. Martins health declined and his mobility was a challenge for him. October of 2011 Martin fell and had an extended stay in the Mobridge Hospital and the Selby Nursing Home. January of 2011 Martin moved out to the farm with Gilbert and his family. In May of 2011 he moved back to Mound City until moving back to the farm to live with Gilbert and his family in July of 2012.

Martin loved the farm and working. He often said "work never killed anyone but the fear of it has". Martin was often told he worked too hard and his response was I was born with a pitch fork in one hand and a shovel in the other and I have never known anything else. Martin was still climbing grain bins for the ASCF office well into his 70's. Martin was an active member of the Pollock Legion Walter West post #272. He was legion commander for many years. He was also a member of the Norway Lutheran Church. He served many terms as council president.

Martin is survived by two sons Gilbert (Cathy) of Herreid and Perry (Lona) of Steilacoom, Wa. Six grandchildren, Catie, Marissa, Dylan, Calllie, Cassie and Kyle. Four great grandchildren and one on the way. One brother Bryon (Kathy) Mickelson of Bryon MI, and one sister Sonya (Bill) Bullock of Boulder Montana.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice, his parents, his mother and father in law, one sister, and one brother.