Quentin Emmett Louden

Martin, SD

1937, 4723, Martin, BF-3,

Quentin Emmett Louden, 93, of Martin, S.D., passed away October 17, 2012, at Bennett County Hospital, Martin. Funeral services were held Monday, October 22, at the American Legion Auditorium with Reverend Lisa Danielson officiating. Visitation was held at the Legion before the service. Burial was at the Martin Community Cemetery with American Legion Post #240 honor guard.

Survivors include his son, Keith Louden, Martin; daughters, Judi Widener, Bayard, Neb., and Jane Jaksch, Littleton, Colo.; 8 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene; infant son, John; twin brother, Quincy; brother, Rex; and his parents.

Quentin was born in Martin, S.D. on August 10, 1919 to Mabel (Bunch) Louden and Emmett Louden. He and his twin brother, Quincy, joined step-sister, Marie, and step-brother, Kermit Croner. Later they were joined by brother Rex. Quentin attended Martin schools through his high school graduation with the Class of 1937. He then attended Fenn College in Cleveland, Ohio, for two years, transferring to Chadron State College where he graduated in 1940.

His first teaching job was teaching math and science in Bartley, Neb., where he taught for one year and then enrolled in the School of Mines, Rapid City. During this time he worked part-time at the Rapid City General Hospital where he met Irene Magill. They were married on May 23, 1942. Quentin soon joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and received orders in November, 1942, to report for active duty at UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif., to join a class in meteorology. After 9 months he was commissioned and received orders to report to the European Theatre of Operations during World War II. He was assigned to Nuts Corner, Ireland, where he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and put in charge of the meteorology offices in Northern Ireland.

After the war in Europe ended he ultimately was discharged in April, 1946, and returned to farm and ranch in Bennett County.

In addition to his farming and ranching career, Quentin taught at Bennett County High School from 1947-1952. He was elected to the Farmers Coop Grain board in 1948 and served there for 21 years. In 1950 he was elected to the Lacreek Electric Board and served for 39 years. He was instrumental in the formation of Rushmore Electric for the purpose of delivering electricity and of Basin Electric for the purpose of generating electricity. He served on the Rushmore board for 23 years and on the Basin board for 17 years, 4 of which were spent as chairman. He served on the Bennett County High School Board of Education for 15 years. He was also a member of the Bennett County Fair Board, was active in the 4-H program, a 50 year member of the American Legion where he served as commander, and was a 60 year member of Pioneer Masonic Lodge #240 in Martin.

In 1968 he was recognized for his service on the Associated School Board of South Dakota, in 1995 he was inducted into the South Dakota Co-op Hall of Fame. He was an elder in the Lindsey Memorial Presbyterian Church, and served on the board of the Bennett County Senior Center.

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