On November 24th, 1925, Charlie and Jessie Martin welcomed their daughter Yvonne C. Martin into the world. Oh! How she changed the world, for not only Charlie and Jessie and her older brother Chuck, but also for people in Black Tail Gulch.

Chuck quickly learned not to mess with his younger sister and make her angry, as you just might get a vase broken over your head, even if she had to stand on a bed to do it.

Yvonne learned at an early age from her dad "it is a lot better to make people laugh than cry."  She took that to heart and would tell jokes. In later years she became known as Deadwood 's story and joke teller. It didn't matter if they were young or old, she had a joke for both. Many times people would stop her on the street, in a store or wherever they would see her and would ask, what was the joke of the day? She always had one.  She liked people and loved hearing them laugh at her jokes.

Yvonne lived in Black Tail Gulch most of her life. During World War II, Yvonne and her parents went to Portland OR for a while. Yvonne and her dad worked at a gas station. Yvonne pumped the gas and checked the oil in cars if they wanted. That too made people smile. As customers would stop and get gas just to see if Yvonne could reach the oil dipstick. Some would even bet she couldn't reach it.

Yvonne was proud of her family history and she loved the days of 76. She rode in the Society of Black Hills Pioneers float off and on starting when she was just a year old.  She also walked or rode on other floats through the years.  She carried on the family tradition on by having her daughter Kris right there with her on the pioneer float.

Yvonne married Bob Foreman on June 22nd 1945. Like Charlie and Jessie, Yvonne had two children, first a boy and then 3 1/2 years later a girl.

Yvonne worked in the Lawrence County courthouse for 38 years.  She started in the Lawrence County Auditors office, moved on to the Treasurers office and finally ran for the Lawrence County Register of Deeds and won the election, she was reelected several times.

She is survived by her daughter, Kris and was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her son, Rick.

Many times through the years, Yvonne told Kris not to be sad when she passes away and don't make or let others be sad. Tell them one of my jokes and make them laugh. So, when you think of Yvonne, remember one of her jokes and laugh, don't cry.

Memorials will be established to the animal shelters of the Twin Cities, Sturgis and Spearfish.

A graveside service will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Deadwood on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 1:00pm under the direction of Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Friends may sign her online guest register at www.osheimschmidt.com.