Jeanie Long

Irene (Jeanie) Long, 86, of Martin SD passed away on Friday, December 1st at her home.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 6th at 10:00 am at the new American Legion Auditorium with burial at the Martin Community Cemetery following the service.

Jeanie was born on August 6th,1935, at home south of Martin on the farm to Louis and Sophia (Rumsey) Babby. She attended school until 9th grade in Martin and later obtained her high school diploma.

Jeanie met the love of her life and on December 10, 1952, she married Ronald (Ronnie) Long in Kadoka, SD.  The couple moved to Potter, NE where Ronnie worked at an Army defense depot for about one year and they welcomed their first child, Donald. The couple then moved to Vetal, SD, where Ronnie farmed with his dad and Jeanie was a homemaker.

The couple later moved to Martin and welcomed three more children, Linda, Jayne, and Kimberly. Jeanie worked a variety of part time jobs and did bookkeeping for Keith Long for Frontier Gas Station.

Ronnie and Jeanie operated Ron's Husky Service Station in Martin for 7 years. Jeanie kept the books for the station as well as raising their four children. Jeanie later went to work as a tutor at the LaCreek College for 10 years and helped a large amount of students obtain their GED. She also helped numerous college students with tutoring different subjects, especially Algebra. Jeanie won the Hattie Twiss award for the highest GPA.

Jeanie loved to play cards and spend time with family at her home. She loved watching movies and had a large collection of movies she shared with her kids and grandkids.  Jeanie was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 50 years

Jeanie is survived by her four children; Donald (Loraine) Long of Ridgway, SC; Linda Suess of Martin; Jayne (Robert) Stotts of Scottsdale, AZ; and Kimberly (David) Hicks of Martin; Eight grandchildren; Eighteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Cecil “Sonny” Babby and Dwayne (Theda) Babby; and two sisters, Sharon Bauer, and Lucy (John) Arensdorf.  Jeanie is preceded in death by her husband, Ronnie Long; parents Louis and Sophia Babby; two sisters Donna Perry, and Lois Coats; one grandson Christopher.