Martha A. Linde

CUSTER - Martha A. Linde was born at the Ghost Canyon Ranch near Hermosa on August 17, 1909, to Arthur E. Lyndoe and Bessie Himebaugh Lyndoe. She passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2005, in Custer. Martha had two older sisters, Ida Townsend and Elsie Peterson, and a young brother, Arthur Lyndoe. Martha lost her beloved mother when she was only seven and spent her childhood living with relatives. She attended grade school in Keystone and worked her way through high school in Rapid City. She then attended the Spearfish Normal School for one year so she could teach. She taught country school for a number of years. In 1929, Martha married Reinhart (Jack) Linde (deceased). They were married for over 50 years. The Linde family was involved in the sawmill business. To Martha and Jack's union were born six sons: H. Jack (Sharon), Jerrold (deceased) (Mary), Robert (Jan), all of Custer, David of Rapid City, Bruce (deceased) and John (Lynne) of Wilmington, DE. She also leaves 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild and a large extended family and many friends. She enjoyed her sizeable family, whom she prayed for daily and always remembered their special days. Martha was a member of the Custer Community Church, the Mary Martha Circle, The Daughters of the American Revolution (Harney Peak Chapter), the Custer County Historical Society and the Black Hills Pioneer Society. She had three books published: Rushmore's Golden Valleys; Sawmills of the Black Hills; and Western Dakota Horse Stories. She was interested in Western South Dakota history and in rock hunting and had stories published on both subjects in various local and national magazines. She also was diligent in pursuing her family's genealogy and traveled the world to find and meet relatives. Martha's family was a great comfort to her as she grew older and will be forever more. A visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 18, 2005, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer, SD. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 19, 2005, at the Custer Community Church in Custer, SD, with Reverend Don Stoebner officiating. Interment will follow at the Custer Cemetery. A luncheon will be held after the interment at the Custer Community Church in Custer, SD. A memorial has been established in Martha's name to benefit the Custer Community Church in Custer. Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer, SD.