Marshall Likness

Webster - Marshall Likness, 80, of Webster died Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown.

His funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 2007, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster, with Rev. William Olsen officiating.

Burial will be in Webster Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster on Thursday 4-8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Masonic service.

Marshall Robert Likness was born Monday, June 27, 1927, to Rudoph and Mary (Brendmoen) Likness at the family farm in Liberty Township, Day County, S.D., north of Roslyn. He was baptized and confirmed at Fron Lutheran Church north of Roslyn. He attended school in Roslyn for 11 years and then transferred to Webster, where he graduated in 1945. After high school, he started farming with his father and then moved to Minneapolis, where he attended Dunwoody Institute, after which he went to work for the Cream of Wheat Corporation, where he worked in their advertising department. Later, he began selling cars for Hull-Dobbs Ford dealership in Minneapolis.

On Nov. 20, 1949, he married Evelyn McCarlson at Tabor Lutheran Church near Webster. After their marriage, the couple made their home in Minneapolis until 1952, when they returned to Webster. Marshall went to work for Best Motors in Webster as a car salesman for the next 30 years. In the mid-1960s, he purchased a part interest in the business. As a salesman, he achieved the Prestigious Ford 500 Club Honors Award and the Lincoln-Mercury Master Club Award for many years. In 1981, the couple purchased the Loyal Chevrolet building and started an independent auto dealership called Likness Auto Sales. Marshall continued to sell cars until his death. It is estimated that he sold well over 12,000 vehicles in his sales career.

The couple also maintained a farm north of Webster for the last 60 years and raised stock cows. For the last 25 years they traveled to Phoenix, Ariz., where they spent the winter months and Marshall sold cars part-time and helped organize the South Dakota picnic. In 1978, he received a South Dakota real estate license and sold for for Delaney, VanderLinden & Delaney until the present time.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster, where he had served on the Church Board several times. He was a member of Coteau Lodge No. 54 A.F. & A.M., where he served as Worshipful Master; the Yelduz Shrine in Aberdeen, where he belonged to the Royal Order of Jesters; was President of Lake Region Shrine Club and Captain of the Model T Unit; a member of the Road Runners Club, where he helped transport kids to the Shrine Crippled Children's Hospital in Minneapolis; and was active in Shrine in Arizona.

He was a Charter Member and Past President of the Webster Jaycees, a Dale Carnegie instructor, served on the Sons of Norway - Odin Lodge Board, was a Past Director and Past President of Lake Region Electric Associated Board of Directors and served on the Board of Directors for the State Independent Auto Dealers. His passion was hunting and fishing and visiting with everyone he met. He loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Marshall passed away Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, at Watertown, S.D., at the age of 80 years, 4 months and 8 days.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, of Webster; a son, Dr. Clark (Gerry) Likness of Watertown, S.D.; two daughters: Monica (Duane) Grosek of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Becky (Don) Mahlen of Webster, S.D.; eight grandchildren: Dr. Lincoln (Dr. Sara Cody) Likness of Milwaukee, Wis., Micah (fiancee, Tabitha Hubert) Likness of Yankton, S.D., Kelsey Likness of Brookings, S.D., Kala (Brad) Knight of Clarinda, Iowa, Courtney Grosek of Fort Collins, Colo., Sadie Mahlen of Sioux Falls, S.D., Tara Mahlen of Aberdeen, S.D., and Marcus Mahlen of Webster, S.D.; and three great-grandchildren: Hailee and Jerzee Jo Knight and Chase Henning.

He was preceded in death by his parents.