Faith Cahalan
November 9, 1929 ~ November 12, 2013
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Faith Cahalan, 84, of Miller, died Tuesday, November 12 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, November 15 at the United Methodist Church in Miller. Visitation will be Thursday, November 14 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service all at Rembold Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at G.A.R. Cemetery.
On November 9, 1929, Faith Lavaune Martens was born to Harry H. and Selma (Rodne) Martens. She was raised in the Wessington, SD area, attending Fritzsche School in Nance Township and graduating from Wessington High School. Her involvement in 4-H activities began early in life with her mother being a 4-H leader. Faith received a BS degree in Home Economics Education at South Dakota State College in 1951. She continued her education and did post-graduate work at CSU, Ft. Collins CO., and at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. She attended many institutes and workshops including Rehabilitation of Blind Homemaker, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Time Management, SDSU and Program Determination, ES, SDSU.
Faith began her professional career as a Home Economics teacher in Canistota, SD for one year. She also was an assistant Home Economist for Beadle County for one year. Faith began her lifelong career as Extension Home Economist in Miller in June of 1952.
On October 24, 1954, Faith married William D. Cahalan in Miller.
Faith has been an active member of the National Association Extension Home Economists, holding several leadership positions and served as national president of that organization.
In addition, Faith was very active in the Miller community, trying to improve people?s lives. Faith served on the first Board of Director for the Miller Community Day Care. A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, she had served on many committees, including the Board of Trustees and was a past chairman of the Council of Ministries. She organized Medical Self Help courses for over 400 county residents and was instrumental in organizing Meals on Wheels, the Hand County Senior Citizens and Central Plains Area Council. Other activities include leadership positions in developing the Miller Housing Authority, the Miller Community Forum, the Miller Economic Corporation. Faith was a member and past matron of the Order of Eastern Star, PEO, Kiwanis, American Legion Auxiliary, a member and past chairman of the Miller Business and Professional Women, state chairman of the Epsilon Sigma Phi, and served as Commissioner for the State Fair. She was a staunch Republican, active at many levels, including a campaign for the state senate in 1992.
Faith was the first woman to be inducted to the South Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame. She was honored with many awards, including Spirit of Dakota nominee; Distinguished Service Award - NAEHE; Outstanding Senior Home Economist SDHEA; Woman of the Year-Miller PBW and Who?s Who of American Women, SDSU Distinguished Alumnus of the year 1992.
Her ?retirement? years were filled with travel, here and abroad; gardening (she was a Master Gardener), quilting and was an avid reader. She loved laughing with friends and family and being outside on her deck.
Faith touched many people?s lives, she also considered herself an educator. Maintaining close family connections was very important to her.
Faith is survived by her brother Harry (Judy) Martens, Rapid City, sister-in-law Elaine Martens, Huron; 5 nieces and nephews, 3 great niece and nephews, and 5 great-grandnephew and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Detta Martens, brother Francis Martens, and Bill Cahalan.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the SD 4- H Foundation or your local humane society.
On November 9, 1929, Faith Lavaune Martens was born to Harry H. and Selma (Rodne) Martens. She was raised in the Wessington, SD area, attending Fritzsche School in Nance Township and graduating from Wessington High School. Her involvement in 4-H activities began early in life with her mother being a 4-H leader. Faith received a BS degree in Home Economics Education at South Dakota State College in 1951. She continued her education and did post-graduate work at CSU, Ft. Collins CO., and at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. She attended many institutes and workshops including Rehabilitation of Blind Homemaker, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Time Management, SDSU and Program Determination, ES, SDSU.
Faith began her professional career as a Home Economics teacher in Canistota, SD for one year. She also was an assistant Home Economist for Beadle County for one year. Faith began her lifelong career as Extension Home Economist in Miller in June of 1952.
On October 24, 1954, Faith married William D. Cahalan in Miller.
Faith has been an active member of the National Association Extension Home Economists, holding several leadership positions and served as national president of that organization.
In addition, Faith was very active in the Miller community, trying to improve people?s lives. Faith served on the first Board of Director for the Miller Community Day Care. A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, she had served on many committees, including the Board of Trustees and was a past chairman of the Council of Ministries. She organized Medical Self Help courses for over 400 county residents and was instrumental in organizing Meals on Wheels, the Hand County Senior Citizens and Central Plains Area Council. Other activities include leadership positions in developing the Miller Housing Authority, the Miller Community Forum, the Miller Economic Corporation. Faith was a member and past matron of the Order of Eastern Star, PEO, Kiwanis, American Legion Auxiliary, a member and past chairman of the Miller Business and Professional Women, state chairman of the Epsilon Sigma Phi, and served as Commissioner for the State Fair. She was a staunch Republican, active at many levels, including a campaign for the state senate in 1992.
Faith was the first woman to be inducted to the South Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame. She was honored with many awards, including Spirit of Dakota nominee; Distinguished Service Award - NAEHE; Outstanding Senior Home Economist SDHEA; Woman of the Year-Miller PBW and Who?s Who of American Women, SDSU Distinguished Alumnus of the year 1992.
Her ?retirement? years were filled with travel, here and abroad; gardening (she was a Master Gardener), quilting and was an avid reader. She loved laughing with friends and family and being outside on her deck.
Faith touched many people?s lives, she also considered herself an educator. Maintaining close family connections was very important to her.
Faith is survived by her brother Harry (Judy) Martens, Rapid City, sister-in-law Elaine Martens, Huron; 5 nieces and nephews, 3 great niece and nephews, and 5 great-grandnephew and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Detta Martens, brother Francis Martens, and Bill Cahalan.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the SD 4- H Foundation or your local humane society.
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Going to miss you Faith. You were a great Extension friend and mentor. May God bless.
Jerry and Carm Mills
Such a beautiful picture! I miss her she was such a special person to me and my family.
Faith encouraged and helped so many of us to become and do our best. She really believed in 110% individual and team efforts, truly an all hands on deck kind of approach in the building of a brighter and better future for our lives, 4-H clubs, communities, country, and world. Any Thank you for her leadership, service, and friendship simply seems to fall short. I will always remember her inspiration and the example she set.
I always enjoyed working with Faith – a fun woman with great spirit.
I am fortunate to have worked with Faith for many years in S.D. and nationally. She was a very good teacher and an exceptional leader. Many will miss her and we have lost a great citizen.
I have known Cheryl for so many years and always heard her speak so highly and respectfully of her Aunt Faith. Cheryl has shared some of Faith’s bountiful perennial flowers with me that still thrive and will always remind me of the two strong women. I am also a 4-H alumni so it is fantastic to see Faith’s dedication to the program. I’m sure she was a fantastic home economist and I am sorry that I never got to meet this extraordinary gal. My sympathies go out to Cheryl and the rest of the family.
Many good memories of time spent with Faith. She was admired and looked up to by many for her work and enthusiasm for many many projects. The pain is gone now and she is celebrating in Heaven I’m sure – greeted by many family members. Prayers to her extended family!
May God’s loving arms wrap around you and give you peace and comfort during this time of sorrow. Thank You Cheryl and Lisa for the stories you have told me about Aunt Faith,which allow me wonderful memories of her, even though I did not know her personally. May her memory be eternal. Love Tracy.
My memories and eulogy of FAITH CAHALAN: I learned this morning that my very special friend passed away yesterday. When I talked to Mom this morning, she wondered if I had heard that Faith had passed away. When she told me I just started to cry. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Faith. She was the Home Economics Extension Agent for Hand County for decades, among many other important achievements. She has mentored me like no one else and we were connected on so many levels. I joined 4-H when I was 8 years old and continued with great delight for 10 years. She was so remarkable! She taught us how to sit, stand, walk, and behave and how to dress! She taught us the difference between a great baked item and a poorly made one. A perfectly sewn skirt and ones not made as well! I place these cookies 2-3-1-4, I place 2 at the top of the class… I remember once when we were at a food and clothing judging school on a Wednesday afternoon. She admonished the group because some had come to town looking kind of raggedy, dressed in shorts etc. She said none of my girls will come to town looking like this!
As a high school senior,she had me be the Adult Leader of two 4-H clubs in Miller. At that time I was a member of two 4-H clubs myself and that year, I was the president of both those clubs, plus president of Junior Leaders organization. I hung out at the courthouse at her office a lot with her working on projects. I also worked for her husband, Bill at the Cal-Fays store! Most days, I went straight from work to the Hand County Court House. As the youngest in the family of 5 kids, I wanted to stay in town that last year of high school, since I was involved in so many activities and did not want to drive 20 miles to town for school every day. The deal was that I had to have a job. I had an epiphany later that Faith made sure to keep me busy with the leadership responsibilities, to make sure that neither she nor I got in trouble with my Dad! She did keep me way too busy to get in trouble!
I wanted to make a beautiful tailored royal blue coat (Vogue pattern) for my home-ec sewing project. My teacher realized that she and I were in over our heads She suggested that I reach out to Faith for help. I stayed at Faith’s house for the week-end and with her coaching and expertise, we got it done! It was beautiful!
While in High School, my senior year, she encouraged me to apply for a 4-H trip to Washington DC for Citizenship and Leadership. It was a 2500 word theme and a 25 page report. Faith told me simply to approach this not as what have I done, but rather, what have others done and learned through me. I did win the trip! I have carried that mantra through my years as a leader, coach and mentor.
When Marta Hernandez came from Costa Rica to live with us for as an exchange student, she had no winter clothes. Marta and Twyla spent the week-end with her and she and Twyla created a winter wardrobe for Marta. Faith hand sewed pearls on Marta’s formal dress, that was worn for Snow Queen contest and prom.
As a young woman with my infant Brent on my lap, she and the ag extension agent came out to the farm for a meeting with me. We sat at the kitchen table and they told me that they wanted me to come to work at the courthouse with them as the Bicentennial 4-H coordinator. She and I were crazy fun together I just love her beyond measure! From her I learned leadership, delegation, positivity and so much more that is impossible to articulate, no matter how many words I use!
When I lived in Miller, a huge blizzard had set in. She called me and told me that she was coming to get baby Brent and me. She picked us up and we spent the week-end with her and Bill. She set out a red checkered tablecloth on the floor and we had a picnic in the middle of the blizzard.
I tried to visit Faith every time I would go home to Miller. We would laugh and carry on and tell stories. I recall when she lived at her home near the library, she gave me a tour of her home and it seemed she showed me every closet and shelf in the house! She listened and loved and cared and understood. She was always fully engaged, while listening to anything that I had to say.
Due to diabetes and other health issues, Faith suffered physically and mentally in recent years. Even when I would see her at the nursing home, I would make her laugh by telling her stories and she seemed to come to life a bit, when others said she was pretty vacant! She would nod and laugh and respond! I just KNEW she knew me! She would hug me, we would hold hands and kiss each other good bye and I would cry as I left her.
It was difficult to see such an intense and vibrant woman, who has made huge impacts to hundreds, maybe thousands,succumb to health conditions.
So many things in Miller and Hand County have her fingerprints all over them….the 4-H programs, the library.. Meals on Wheels and many other important programs! I love her dearly and I know she is healthier in Heaven! AMEN!!
To the Family of Faith – my thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time. I worked with Faith in Extension up until her retirement and I want you to know it was a pleasure. She accomplished so much and was respected by many. She will be missed.
We are sorry for your loss and will keep you in our prayers. Faith was a sweet lady and was very influential in a lot of young peoples lives. I am less because she is no more, but I am more because she was a part of my life.
Faith and my parents (Gubby and Elaine) worked together for many years as 4-H leaders and other endeavors. We remember her smiles, positive attitude, and her love for helping others. She is now in the Lord’s hands. Blessings!
Faith was a real leader in our community, and her Church. As a young girl, I remember her singing in the choir, and she winked at me, it made me feel so special, she was so beautiful.. In later years she called me to be the lay leader in our Church, (U. Methodist Miller) I was doubtful of my ability, she encouraged me said I should pray about it, and she’d call me back, I did and she was an encouragement to me.. What a lady what a life..
Faith was a special person. She was dedicated to her community and her state, also putting SD on the map through her leadership for the National Association of Extension Home Economists. She was fun, tough, resilient, hard working, and true to her friends. She was a good organizer and manager; I believe God has already put her to work as
one of his angels.
Faith was a traveling partner to several Extension and FSC Conventions. Faith made the long road trips entertaining. I will cherish the memories that were made when attending the conventions. Faith, what a wonderful fun loving person!
Good bye to a lovely lady. Having worked with Faith for a number of years, I loved her and she seemed like my big sister. My deepest sympathy to her family.
I have two memories of Faith that stand out.1 As a young boy I remember bee hive hair 2 The night she called me and told me that my Dad had not returned from a trip to Germany with them. There is a sign that hangs in my home that reads Its not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years. I feel Faith was a living example of this. Heaven will never be the same now with both Faith and Selma roaming around. Ani’t that the berries
I was lucky enough to get to know and learn from Faith when I worked for SDSU Extension. She was a courageous and professional lady who was never afraid of a challenge or hard work. Her leadership, mentoring, teaching, and friendship touched the lives of many. Faith truly lived the 4-H Motto ?To Make the Best Better?. God Bless.
I worked with Faith at the SD State Fair for a number of years and she was one of the sweetest people i have ever had the pleasure to work with I am so sorry for your loss
Our thoughts and prayers are with in this your time of need.
The many wonderful entries in this guestbook speak volumes about the lady Faith was and now, is again. We know she was a great person as she made our sister, Lisa, a part of her family. Lisa has told us so many stories of Faith that we feel as if we know her. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cheryl, Lisa, and the rest of Faith’s family as they carry on with Faith’s legacy of teaching, sharing, and devotion to her family.
I am so sorry to hear of Faith’s passing. I worked with her in NAEHE for so many years. We have lost a special lady, I share you sorrow.
Charlotte Young,
1984 NAEHE President
Faith was such a beautiful lady and worked so well with 4-H members. We enjoyed our time with her when she was in Beadle County. She was such a good role model for our daughters. Our sincerest sympath.
Really sorry to hear of Faith’s passing.
Our prayers and thoughts are with the Families.
Dick and Kathy Splichal
OUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU CHERYL AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY. I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG MAN MEETING FAITH AT A 4-H CONFERNECE IN BROOKINGS. HER LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE TOUCHED MANY LIVES. OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY.
Take courage and have hope.
I have hope towards God, which hope these men themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection. Acts 24:15