Martha Henjum

Martha C. Henjum, 94, of Garretson formerly of Sioux Falls died Monday, February 12, 2007 at Palisade Manor in Garretson. Funeral Services will begin at 11:00 AM Friday, February 16, 2007 at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM Thursday, with the family present from 6-8:00 PM at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.

Martha was born March 12, 1912 to parents John and Maren (Kvarn) Sorum on the family farm near Harrisburg. Her mother died when she was eight years old and she started helping her dad by cooking the meals for her family. She attended Harrisburg High School graduating in 1929. She then attended Augustana College where she earned her teaching certificate and taught country school near Hurley, Crooks, and Sioux Falls. She then worked in Winnetka, Illinois for two years.

Martha married Fred Henjum September 22, 1940 at Split Rock Lutheran Church, Corson, South Dakota. They farmed for 28 years and then moved to Garretson where they started two Minnehaha County weekly newspapers, the Garretson Weekly and the Tri City Reporter, which is now known as the Brandon Valley Challenger. They sold both the newspapers and moved to Sioux Falls in 1981.

Martha worked as the Activity Director at Luther Manor in Sioux Falls and was the first Activity Director at Palisade Manor. She helped organize and was the first president of the Palisade Manor Auxiliary in Garretson. She was Worthy Matron of Spirit Canyon Chapter #147 of the Eastern Star and later joined the Jasper Chapter #8. She was President of the Garretson Study Club and a member of the Lassie Extension Club. She was an avid bowler in several leagues in Garretson and Sioux Falls. She was also active in Senior Citizen’s Toastmasters Club.

Martha was a member of First Lutheran Church, Women of the E.L.C.A. and Elizabeth Circle in Sioux Falls before rejoining Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson.


Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Jim Henjum and his wife Karen, Harrisburg; Marian Henjum, Sioux Falls; Bill Henjum, Garretson; three grandchildren, Ron Henjum and his wife DeeAnn, Sheila Schliesman and her husband Joe, and John Henjum; two great grandchildren, Riley Ann Henjum and Jesse James Schliesman; four step great grandchildren, Megan Schliesman, Jacob Schliesman, Tanner Danko, and Maizy Baldwin; a sister, Ella Bell, Anchorage, Alaska; two brothers in law, Duane Carr, Flandreau, and Donald Henjum and his wife, Ida, Chandler, Arizona; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred on March 19, 2001, her parents, her step mother, Thea (Egge) Sorum, brother, Clarence Sorum, and a sister Alma Carr.

Memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church or Palisade Manor Nursing Home.