Martha Zulauf Wortman

Martha Zulauf Wortman, 79, of Hermosa, S.D., formerly of Gillette died Tuesday, July 31, 2012, of short illness at her home.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4703 S. Canyon Road, Rapid City, S.D.

She was born Nov. 9, 1932, the daughter of Alexander and Anna Zulauf in Bison, S.D., and raised in the farming community of Isabel, S.D.

She graduated from high school in Isabel. She then married Lyle Wortman Sr., also of Isabel, on Dec. 26, 1953.

Her husband worked as a heavy-duty mechanic and welder, working on irrigation and construction projects, and building dams and canals in Mobrige, S.D., upstate New York, Page, Ariz., and central and northern California.

In 1976, they moved their family to Gillette where she last worked for Campbell County School District, and her husband worked for Amax Coal Co.

In 2004, she moved to Hermosa, S.D., to be nearer to her extended family.

The last years of her life were spent by volunteering at the Black Hills Health and Education Center. She loved the Lord and was active in church ministries. She was generous in donating to charities and participated in community services to help clothe and feed people in need.

Her hobbies included gardening, arts and crafts, singing, and playing the piano and auto harp.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years.

Mrs. Wortman is survived by her five children, Ivan Wortman of Apopka, Fla., Rodney Wortman of Hermosa, S.D., Debra Badger of Evergreen, Colo., Penny Schneeman of Gillette, Lyle Wortman Jr. of Gillette; nine grandchildren; a niece and; a nephew.