Martha Jeanne Merryfield, 87

Martha Jeanne Merryfield

1936 - 2023

Martha Jeanne Merryfield, age 87, was born April 3, 1936, during the Great Depression, between Sigourney and Delta on the family farm to John David and Lillian Biewen Himrod.  Jeanne attended country school for nine years. In 1950 she took a large step and attended Sigourney High School. She was blessed with many honors as a high school cheerleader, homecoming attendant, homecoming princess and secretary of her class. She graduated in 1954, with her 54 classmates. Wow!!! Now the real world. Jeanne was employed at Kemp Produce until her marriage to her high School sweetheart Dorman Merryfield on November 1, 1958, in Winterset, Iowa. He was employed by Culvert Construction. They had two daughters Rita Lorraine was born in 1959, and Linda Renee born in 1967.

The family moved 44 times with their 47 by 8 foot trailer. They lived in Dubuque for 5 years while building a flood wall around the town of Dubuque. Dorman and Jeanne started their own construction business in 1970, and then moved to Malcom, Iowa to a farm where the two daughters lived. Dorman worked the jobs and Jeanne took care of the office duties. They merged their company with Marion Elliott and their crews expanded.

Jeanne’s lifelong dream came true and she could have horses. Jeanne trained, showed them along with the office duties and caring for her family. They worked the business until 1989 when Dorman’s health failed and they sold the construction equipment. Later they ran a road service business for 3 years at Exit 191 on Interstate 80. In 1992, they moved to Hermosa, South Dakota taking Jeanne’s parents. Jeanne cared for her parents and Dorman until they passed. In 2009 Jeanne moved back to Montezuma near her farm and family. She enjoyed watching her girls show their horses.

She is survived by her daughters: Rita Robison of Malcom and Linda (Greg) Tish of Malcom, three grandchildren: Shannon Amsden, Dakota Tish, and Jake Robison, four great grandchildren: Bryce Tish, Alea Tish, Eloise Amsden and Eleanora Amsden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dorman on February 17, 2003, and sister Shirley Hammes.

Her gravesite is at Keystone South Dakota and you can see Mt. Rushmore in the distance.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to give a memorial to the family to have a benched placed at the Kirkwood Equestrian Center.