Martha Caroline (Loftesness) Hurley, age 95, of Spearfish, SD, passed away December 3, 2008 at Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish.

Martha was born October 11, 1913 in Hills, MN, the 4th of 8 children to Carl and Helga (Nerison) Loftesness. Her grandparents homesteaded near Garretson, SD, belonging to the group of 11 Norwegian families who came together to settle in that area.

Martha's family moved to Canton, SD, when she was a young girl and lived in Sioux Falls, SD, where she graduated from Washington High School in 1931. She received her 2-year teaching certificate from Augustana. She taught primary school in Des Moines, IA, Volin, SD, and Aberdeen, SD, where she co-authored a book written about some of her students entitled "Two Plus Two Equals Four."

After marrying Cecil Hurley in Canton, SD, they farmed between Canton and Worthing, SD, and raised a family of four children. In 1959, they moved to Spearfish, SD, where Martha kept the books for Cecil's cattle business; she also owned and operated a mini storage facility and worked with the family in The Fish and Hunter Co. She was a member of the Saint Joseph's Altar Society. Like her father and mother, she used her sewing abilities to re-make and create clothing for her family. She loved playing bridge, reading, riding her bike, mowing, and making exceptionally good chocolate chip cookies.

She is survived by her beloved brother, Bud "Carl" Loftesness (Betty) of Walnut Creek, CA, her two daughters, Carol Whitlock (Chuck) and Ruth Ann Hurley-Miller (Paul) all of Spearfish, her son Joe Hurley (Kathy) of Sioux Falls, SD, 9 grandchildren: Cherise (Donovan) Lerew, Spearfish, Craig (Toni) Whitlock, Thornton, CO, Cory (Carrie) Whitlock, Thornton, CO, Callie (Tom) Schoenherr, Windsor, CO, Cami Whitlock, Englewood, CO, Pat Hurley, St. Benedict, OR, Mike Hurley, Laramie, WY, Maureen Hurley, Sioux Falls, and Paul Miller Jr., Tucson, AZ, 6 great-grandchildren: Tyler Rose, Téa, Chloe, Tori, Tyson, and Marley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Cecil Hurley, and her son, Bob and 6 of her 7 siblings have pre-deceased her.

In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted to The Cecil Hurley and Martha Hurley Scholarship at the Spearfish High School. Memorials and condolences may be sent to the Family of Martha Hurley at 120 W. Birch, Spearfish, SD 57783.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00a.m. on Monday, December 22, 2008 at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Spearfish, with Father Tim Hoag as Celebrant.

Private family inurnment will take place.