Martin H. Bohls Castlewood, South Dakota Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, June 17, 2008 St. Johns Catholic Church Castlewood, South Dakota Fr. Kenneth Koster, Officiating Visitation 4:00 to 7:00 PM Monday at St. Johns Catholic Church in Castlewood followed By a Scripture Service at 7:00 PM. Martin H. Bohls was born February 25, 1918, on the family farm northeast of Castlewood, South Dakota, to John S. and Mary (Tauer) Bohls. The family moved to a farm southwest of Kranzburg and Martin graduated from Codington County grade school in 1931. In 1932 the family returned to the farm near Castlewood where Martin would work for his parents and neighbors. He attended Smith Welding School in Minnesota and after graduating was employed by Dobbins Manufacturing of Elkhart, Indiana as a welder and maintenance foreman. During April of 1942 he enlisted in the Army-Air Force and was stationed stateside near Portland and Tacoma. He would achieve the rank of Sergeant and serve as an aircraft welder in the South Pacific campaigns of New Guinea, Southern Philippines and the Northern Solomons. He received an honorable discharge at Ft. Collins, Colorado on November 9, 1945. Following the war he would return to Portland and work for the Southern Pacific Railroad. The next year Marty decided to return to Castlewood where he was hired as a mechanic by Harold Elliott. A short time later, he and partner Harry Tillma would purchase the International Harvester Implement and Standard Oil Station in Castlewood. Marty remained in that business until 1957 when he purchased the local welding shop. He owned and operated a welding and machine shop until his retirement in 1983. He also owned and ran a school bus route for 10 years. He was a past commander and over 60 year member of the American Legion Post 250, a past chief and member of the Castlewood Fire Department. He also served as a Castlewood City Councilman for 19 years and was a former member of the Castlewood Historical Society and a longtime member of St. Johns Catholic Church where he served on the finance committee. Marty was united in marriage to Eileen Jensen on June 11, 1953, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Estelline. They had just celebrated their 55th anniversary the day prior to Martys death on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at the age of 90 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and bowling. After his retirement his hobby was painting pictures and he enjoyed spending time with his family. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Eileen of Castlewood; his children, Greg Bohls and his wife Maryann of Spearfish, SD, Roger Bohls and his wife Martha of Rapid City; eight grandchildren, Nate, Liza and Ceci Bohls, Averie Georgas, Kim, Kirt, Lori and Mike Katon; four great grandchildren, Cherish, Tilli, Kyla and Adrion; siblings, Richard Bohls and his wife Delores of Castlewood and Laura Kemink of Sioux Falls; a sister-in-law, LaVerne Goldhorn of Castlewood; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Edward, Albert and Eugene; and one sister, Hilde.