Loren Abernathy

Loren Kenneth Abernathy, 67, of Martin, South Dakota passed away on June 28th, 2025 at Bennett County Hospital.

Loren was born in Rapid City, SD to Kenneth and Vivian Abernathy on July 7th, 1957.

He grew up in Sturgis, SD where he spent his childhood taking road trips with his parents and younger sister, hunting and exploring his grandfather’s ranch near Bear Butte, helping his grandmother in the kitchen, and playing cornet in the high school band. After graduating from Sturgis High School in 1975 he attended Black Hills State University in Spearfish for two years, then transferred to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion to finish his bachelor's degree in elementary education.

On August 17th, 1984 he married Linda Langan at Saint Augustine Catholic Church in Austin, MN. They had three children.

In 1985 they moved to Martin, SD where Loren taught at Central Rural School and then at Martin Grade School until 2011 when he went to Ogalla Lakota County and taught at Batesland and Wolf Creek. He was passionate about education and especially enjoyed teaching science and reading. Over his 40 year career he strove to connect with his students and bring joy to learning.

Loren enjoyed the great outdoors and loved hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. He was an avid reader and a self-declared rock hound. He had a great sense of humor with a smile and laugh that were infectious. Above all, he loved spending time with his family. He was a wonderful, loving father.

He was preceded in death by his mother Vivian Abernathy, father Kenneth Abernathy, daughter Rebecca Abernathy, and sister Beth Walz.

Loren is survived by his wife Linda Abernathy, children Andrea Abernathy (Jacob Fields) and Phillip Abernathy, stepmother Sharon Abernathy, sisters Yvonne Holter, Rachel Woelfel (Damien), and Diana Lipford, and brother Edward Merchen (Sherri).

A visitation service will be held on July 10th, 2025 at 7:00pm and funeral service will be held on July 11th, 2025 at 10:00am, both at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Martin, SD.