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Mass of Christian Burial for Therese Martin age 102 of Fort Yates, ND be 1:00 PM Saturday, July 13, 2019 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Kenel, SD. Interment will be in the Catholic Cemetery in Kenel, SD under direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday, July 12, 2019 beginning at 5:00 PM with a rosary at 7:00 PM at Kesling Funeral Home. Therese passed away Friday, July 5, 2019 at St. Vincent's Nursing Home in Bismarck, ND.

Beloved Therese Agnes Marie Martin passed away July 5, 2019 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Therese was 102 years old. She was born on November 4, 1916 to Thomas and Irene (Black Lightning) Martin near the Mad Bear Camp along the Missouri River.

Theresa entered the Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacred in Marty, South Dakota, a Native American order of nuns and left after nearly 30 years when the order was disbanded. Therese taught school there and received her bachelor's degree from Mount Marty College and received her teacher's certificate from the State of South Dakota.

Upon leaving the order, Therese moved back to Standing Rock and worked for various Tribal programs over the years. She remained in the region and taught school at local Tribal Schools. In the 1980's she taught the Lakota language at the Sitting Bull College up until she retired.

Theresa was a beautiful woman both inside and out. She was known to be very independent and traveled as a speaker at conferences in her retirement. She was loved by her family but also by everyone who knew her. She raised many of her nieces and nephews as her own and remained committed to her faith throughout lifetime.

Therese was the last of the original Martin Family and is survived by many nieces and nephews:

Verna Cadotte Family, Lew & Alfreda (Martin) Family, Margaret (Martin) Walking Elk Family, Ben & Cecelia (Martin) Defender Family, Theodore Martin Family, Henry & Elsie (Lefthand) Martin Family, Terry Neadeau Family, Darrel Martin Family, Arlene McLaughlin Family, Pat McLaughlin Family, Jerry Martin Family, Cheryl Martin Family, George Defender I Family, Susan Jordan Family, Rose Black Lightning Family, Angeline Montclair Family and her beloved nieces and nephews, Alvina Martin, Aleta Martin, Loren (Lylis) Martin-Siegel, Gabe Martin, Troy Martin, Samantha Martin and Joe Martin (deceased).

She also leaves behind many close friends: Montclair Family, Patty Kelly Family, Greg Sherwood Family, Johanna Goodhouse, Charles Murphy Sr. Family, Della Bad Wound Family, George Iron Shield Family, Corrine Many Horses Family, Peter Taken Alive Sr Family, Maxine Whitebull Family, Isabel Crow Feather Family, Phyllis Young, Sister Gertrude Rolfes, Deacon George Maufort, Father Basil Atwell, and Sister Ann Schach.