Martin Leo Luze, 89, died Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Brookview Manor, Brookings. Martin Leo Luze was born January 12, 1923 to Louis and Mary (Mueller) Luze in Alton Township in Brookings, SD. He was the youngest of five children. Martin was baptized at St. Williams Catholic Church in Aurora, SD. He attended rural schools in the Elkton, SD area and after gradation he traveled and worked on ranches out west and also in the state of Washington. Later he returned home to South Dakota and farmed for many years. Martin married Neva Keenan of Flandreau, SD on June 19, 1943 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Elkton, SD. He was a long time member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Elkton, served on the St. Mary's school board and was a current member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings. Swede had a great sense of humor and enjoyed hunting, fishing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, riding and training horses, playing cards and enjoying life. May his soul rest in peace.

Swede is survived by his wife Neva; seven sons, Sylvester (Jan), Bettendorf, IA, Philip (Barbara), Brookings, Raymond (Valerie), Egan, Greg (Anna Beth), Nashville, TN, Daniel (Gail), White, SD, Thomas (Cheryl), Egan, SD, Charles (Jeanette), Luverne, MN; one daughter Susan (Myron) Lang, Washington, IL; one son-in-law Charles (Jackie) Richter, Colman, SD,; 34 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter Bernadette Ann Richter, his parents, two brothers, Vernon and Joe Luze, three sisters, Myra Peterson, Madeline Perkovich, Irene Luze and one granddaughter Christine Richter Guetzlaff.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Brookings, with burial in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Elkton. Visitation begins at 5:00 pm Tuesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church with a 6:30 pm prayer service.