William "Bill" Martens

William “Bill” Walter Martens, 54, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Friday, October 21, 2022.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 29, 2022, at First United Methodist Church, Aberdeen, with Pastor Derek Baum officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at the church with a 7 p.m. prayer service. Visitation continues one hour before the service at the church.

Burial will be at DeSmet Cemetery.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Bill Martens was born on December 6, 1967, in Sioux Falls, SD. He was raised by his mother, Delores Baier (DeWitt), his stepfather, Richard Baier, and his father, Clint Martens. Bill grew up in DeSmet, South Dakota, in a family of four brothers, one stepbrother, and two stepsisters. He graduated from DeSmet High School in 1986.

Bill attended Northern State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education and participated in football, cross-country, and track. He furthered his education with a Master of Arts in Teaching, as well as a Master of Science in Education. During college, Bill met the love of his life, Gayla Hise. They married in 1993 and were blessed with four beautiful children: Cody, Cole, Seth, and Maria.

He began his teaching and coaching career at Aberdeen Roncalli in 1991, then joined the Aberdeen Public School District in 2002. He briefly taught at Holgate Middle School, but his heart rested with elementary students, which led him to teach physical education at Lincoln Elementary school for the past 19 years.  While his focus was at Lincoln, he was a traveling teacher for Simmons Elementary and May Overby Elementary, including a summer position at the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Over the span of 32 years, Bill coached football, basketball, track, and cross country at the middle and high school levels. Throughout his coaching tenure, he greatly cherished leading, inspiring, and coaching the girls’ cross-country and track teams.

His passion for coaching led him to accomplish Region, ESD, and State titles. He was decorated with many accomplishments, such as but not limited to, South Dakota Coach of the Year, a two-time finalist for National Coach of the Year, and Elementary Teacher of the Year.

He was a beloved coach, but more importantly a family man first. Bill supported his four children in all their endeavors as their number one fan. His favorite pastime was making memories while surrounded by family. Selfless in love, he always aspired to bring a smile. Often did he say that his favorite number was 33, the number of years Jesus lived. He valued his faith and inspired that in his children.

Bill was a doting husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. Bill was loved like a brother by many of his coaching colleagues including Greg Murley and Jim Appl, as well as his students, staff, and all the athletes whose lives he touched throughout the years.

If you knew Bill, you’d know one thing: he loved to run. If he wasn’t running, he was spending time with family and friends playing games or making jokes. He was constantly checking his Fantasy Football team and yelling at the Dallas Cowboys. Luckily, he was always able to count on the dog he “never wanted,” Nisha.

Bill is survived by his wife Gayla; children: Cody, Cole, Seth, and Maria; granddaughter, Castle; mother, Delores Baier of DeSmet; father, Clint (Margaret Wild) Martens of DeSmet; brothers: Tim (Kim) Martens, Tom (Kim) Martens, Mike (Brianne) Martens, Matt (Penny) Martens; stepsisters Julie (Mark) Moore and Jill Baier; stepbrother Shane (Jodi) Baier; parents-in-laws Jack (Gayle) Hise; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his stepfather, Richard Baier, and his grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Aberdeen Central High School or Northern State University for a scholarship in honor of Bill.