Kent DeWitt Murtland, from Rapid City, SD, loving husband and father, passed away peacefully, on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Edgewood Memory Care in Spearfish, SD.

He was 70 years old. He will be remembered for his quick wit, love of a good joke or prank, and for his passion of helping people, kindness to friends, and family and his love of Jesus.

Born November 22, 1955, in North Carolina to Dr. Richard and Jane Murtland and was raised in Carmel, California. He graduated from Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, CA in 1973 and completed University of the Pacific College in Stockton, CA in 1978.

Upon returning home from UOP with a business degree he began working at MJ Murphy Lumberyard in Carmel Valley Village. While attending church at Carmel Valley Baptist Church, he met Kathleen Elizabeth Hall (Kathy). They were married on November 8, 1980, at the First Baptist Church, Terrell, Texas. Kent and Kathy set up their first home in the Carmel Valley Village close to Kent’s work at MJ Murphy and welcomed their first child, a son, Taylor Mason in 1982.

Kent accepted a management position with Hayward Lumber in the summer of 1982, and they moved to Pacific Grove, CA, about 30 miles down the road. They enjoyed Pacific Grove, the Butterfly Capital, and life was good. They welcomed a daughter, Tiffany Michelle, in 1985 and another son, Richard Lee, in 1989.

Kent enjoyed managing lumber yards and accepted a position with United Building Centers, Pierre, SD in 1993. Life in the Midwest offered many new opportunities for Kent such as kayaking the Missouri River, field dressing pheasants, and many new places in the beautiful Black Hills, South Dakota to hike.

Kent loved playing guitar, leading worship, and was ordained as a deacon at Capital Heights Baptist Church, Pierre. He served as a Young Life leader in California and was a member of the Gideons Ministry helping place Bibles where needed. He continued to encourage friends to be active in church and the community.

Kent is survived by his wife, Kathy, his children, Taylor Murtland, (Brenda Bray), Tiffany Smart and Richard Murtland (Ushashi), along with his sisters Candace Grant (Gary) and Cynthia Hebert (Jim).

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association nearest you; or to Landmark Community Church, 3777 Anderson Road, Rapid City, SD 57703.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for April 15, 2026; 1:00 pm, at Landmark Community Church, 3777 Anderson Road, Rapid City, SD 57703. Burial will be a family event at Point Lobos, Big Sur, California in late summer.

Cremation arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel & Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at https://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com/.