Martin L. Lawrenson, 91, of Beresford, SD passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Bethesda Nursing Home in Beresford, SD. Visitation will be Friday March 8, 2013 from 4-8PM with family present from 6:30-8PM. The funeral services will be held at Zion United Methodist Church, Beresford, SD on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 2PM. Burial with military honors will follow at Beresford City Cemetery. He was born March 8, 1921, the sixth of nine children, to Christopher and Margaret (Hamann) Lawrenson in Creighton, SD. Martin enlisted in the United States Army in 1942. He served with the 263rd Infantry in France, Germany, Belgium, England and Iceland as a First Sergeant combat engineer during WWII. Martin was honorably discharged November 6, 1945, returning to the United States with his brothers Tiny, Clarence and Bill on the same victory ship. He received a Presidential Commendation for his participation in the February 23, 1945 Roer River Crossing in Germany. In the mid 1940s Martin played semi pro baseball for the Sioux Falls Canaries. He worked for many years at Sioux Steam Corporation as a fabrication welder. He retired from Cenex at the age of 82. Martin's greatest joy was in being a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Grateful for having shared his life are his loving wife Betty of 70 years; four children, Mary Pat (Keith) Cramer of Oakville, WA, Glen (Deb) Lawrenson of Beresford, Gale (Ron) Olsen of Beresford and Greg (Rhonda) Lawrenson of Joliet, IL; eight grandchildren: Dana (Jon) Safranek, Michael (Amy) Olsen, David (Dana) Olsen, Bradley (Tami) Olsen, Tina (Mike) Kastler, Amy Lawrenson (Lyle Vogel), Nathan Lawrenson and Melissa Lawrenson; 11 great-grandchildren, Isaac, Kevin, Taylor, Logan, Kayla, Britany, Karl, Jeffrey, Madison, Katana and David; 1 great-great-granddaughter, Paige; brother, Bill Lawrenson; sister-in-law, Valonta Cleland and several nieces, nephews and other family members. Martin was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Carrie Snoozy, Lawrence "Tiny", Katherine, Clarence, Emma Wagter, Lillian Kribell and Clifford. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Zion United Methodist Church parsonage fund.