"Marty" Martin Beving

Martin "Marty" Beving, age 72, Clark, died late Thursday night, May 5, 2022, at a Sioux Falls hospital.

Visitation will be held on TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark.  Funeral services will be held on WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022 at 1:00 PM in the Beving Hangar at the Clark County Airport, northeast of Clark.  Burial will follow on a bluff over looking Indian Springs, near The Black Claw.  A time of fellowship will follow at the Black Claw.

Martin Lyall Beving, age 72, passed away on the evening of May 5th, 2022 at AVERA hospital in Sioux Falls due to heart failure (complication after a routine surgery). Marty was currently residing in his living quarters at the Black Claw located 4 miles East, and 1 mile South of Clark South Dakota.

Marty was born on February 10, 1950 in Spencer, Iowa to Lyall & Corine Beving. At a young age his parents & family moved to a farm East of Clark South Dakota. There he attended a country school, & he would tell you that he had to walk to school uphill both ways, and always in a blizzard. As a child, he loved spending time on his Grandparents farm-- Oliver & Margaret Aalseth. He had many fond memories of time with them on that farm. Fishing in the river and eating fresh raspberries off the bushes for his breakfast were a couple of stories Marty would often tell. As a child, he also loved shooting mice in the walls with his BB gun, and teasing his sister Becky. He rebuilt motorcycles at a very young age, and loved racing them around. His most dreaded chore was hauling water to the pigs, so he rigged up a way to run water to them instead of hauling it--always thinking and inventing a way to make things run and work better.

Marty then attended school in Clark, and graduated in 1968. He went on to Lake Area Tech for Aircraft Mechanics, and in the summer of '69 (June 27th), Marty married Cynthia Kay Nuttbrock (aka Ralph). They resided in Watertown and soon started up their own motorcycle repair shop, which was located by the old Hotel Lincoln, in order to support them while he attended Lake Area. Marty was faced with a difficult choice during his college years: saying yes to Bridgestone Motorcycle Company's offer to become a professional motorcycle racer, or continuing on with his college education- and then he was drafted. The choice was clearly decided after he got into a motorcycle accident that broke his collarbone & hurt his arm. Therefore, no more military draft, and he felt that he was married and needed to provide- therefore being a professional motorcycle racer probably wasn't in the cards for his future.

Marty graduated from Lake Area in 1970, and they headed to California in a Green Chevy Van with an orange top (aka "the pumpkin"). Marty was going to find a job at Boeing Aircraft in Washington as a mechanic, but in the midst of their trip they found out that Boeing was laying off a lot of people, so they moved back to Clark on his Grandparents farm, Charlie & Ella Blackman. They bought the farm & raised sheep, farmed, rebuilt airplanes, & started a welding business called Midwest Maintenance & Welding. Later they started their own trucking company. After their trailer house caught fire in the middle of the night during late fall of 1973, they stayed with Ella Blackman while they built their own house--the famous A-frame. He continued to challenge himself by deciding one day that he was going to parachute out of a plane. He bought a used parachute at Roy's Sport Shop in Watertown, and spent his next few days packing and unpacking his parachute, over & over--he finally decided he was ready. He took off the door of the 172 airplane, and while Don Givens flew, he jumped out over a plowed field. His Grandparents, Oliver & Margaret Aalseth came down to watch and had thought he had just fallen to his death as they saw the streamer (let out to see which way the wind was blowing) fall to the ground, but Cindy reassured them that it was just the streamer. He did it--although a very hard landing, it was successful-- his first self taught attempt at parachuting--completed May 17, 1976.

Marty and his wife spent what little free time they had flying to Florida (Marty taking time to feed the alligators marshmallows) and the Bahamas, flying through the Bermuda Triangle, (which was obviously also successful, even though others didn't think they would make it), motorcycling to the Black Hills (creating his own trails through the back territory), and racing Motorcycles. It wasn't until 1979 that Beving Aerial Crop Spraying was established, and he started his full time spraying career. Just to add to the busyness of that year, they had their first child, Valorie (aka Sparky). In this era, he also found time to buy and set up his sunflower seed plant bought from Alabama.

He had many close calls while spraying. On one occasion, an owl flew into the windshield and into the cockpit-- breaking his helmet- leaving blood everywhere. He thought that he was the one bleeding, however, most if it was the owl's. His head took a pretty big hit, and it was hard for him to find his bearings after that: still in the air flying an airplane, windshield completely broken, trying to figure out exactly where he was...stunned. He talked with Cindy as she helped to guide his way back to land. Cindy ran out to the plane and helped him with his broken helmet--blood and feathers were everywhere. Never a dull moment in the life of Marty Beving.

Their second child, Christina (aka Freddy Frog-in-Heimer), was born in 1983, as well as the famous Black Claw soon after. The Black Claw, if you didn't already know, was the famous bedtime story Marty told to Valorie & Christy almost every night---right before they had to go to bed. To sum up the story, the Black Claw was similar to a human arm but instead of a hand, a giant claw was attached at the end. It would wait for you & sit idle during the day, but would creep around until it found its way under your bed in the black of night...and wait for you to go to sleep...then suddenly jump out and grab you (in this part of the story Mart would form his hand into a claw and grab the girls yelling "AAArrrggHH"--and they would both jump and scream!!) Then he would tell them it was time to go right to bed--they would leap into bed being very careful to not let their feet get near the bottom of it as they knew the Black Claw was waiting there, ready to jump out at them. There were always various versions to the story, making it more scary each time he told it. Marty decided to make it even more real to the girls, he would have to actually make it so they could visualize it in their heads. Out of paper mache Marty and Sparky sat down and formed the arm & claw. Once it was set, Marty took it down to the shop to add the finishing touches. He brought it back to the house after several days (I can only imagine the mad scientist's laughter and all the thoughts running through his head as he diligently worked on it down there). In order to properly present it, he hid it behind his back, then as the girls stood close, drew it out as fast as he could screaming, "It's going to get you!" as he whipped it in front of their faces. What a site... black painted body, metal teeth with pink GUMS, eyes that popped out of its head, and red paint that looked like blood dripping from its mouth. The Black Claw became famous to all of the family, and each time they got together, the kids would beg for a story from Uncle Marty about the Black Claw --of course Uncle Marty had to oblige as he couldn't resist an opportunity to scare kids! A circle would form and all would listen eagerly, hanging on every word as Marty told the story of the Black Claw--and of course they all knew what was coming at the end--but would jump & scream louder each time the story was told when the Claw would jump out and grab one of them!

Marty & Cindy moved their Beving Aerial Crop Spraying business from the farm where Marty took off on the gravel road (which is now under water and called Indian Springs Lake) to the Clark Airport. He was still always looking for a good challenge & adrenaline rush--as if we didn't already know that, & Marty continued to add to his flying education by building his own helicopter from a kit, taking a few helicopter flying lessons, and flying! It was never an easy go, as he did eventually crash it, but that didn't stop him. He rebuilt it and continued to learn to fly helicopters- later buying his Robbinson. He also built his gyro-coptor and learned to fly that. He always did enjoy a good challenge, no matter how hard it was! "Persistence always wins" was his motto-- if you keep trying and keep working at it, you will eventually accomplish it! No matter what you set your mind to.

Martin divorced in 1994, but sprayed airplanes for the remainder of his career. He took adventures to Peru & South America, where he even worked by spraying across seas. He then journeyed to Taiwan, and learned to sail all over the oceans around Florida-- taking on any new adventure he could find. Later, he moved his spraying business to Aberdeen SD, and spent many winters traveling to Arizona. His family would meet him for a week every winter, making many memories, and experiencing new adventures each time. From chasing the gargoyles, getting lost in the deep ravines in the middle of the night while on a wild jeep ride--oh yeah, and while running on empty with no gas station in sight, to seeking the lost gold in the Superstitious Mountains, feeding the kit fox marshmallows from your hand, tracking wetbacks, racing around the sand dunes, finding the narrowest path to follow (really not a path at that point-more like the side of the mountain), and looking for old mines & caves to explore. Each grandkid was lucky to have gone on these wonderful, unforgettable adventures, and to have passed the Grandpa test of making a fire by themselves with only a flint, and calling the coyotes with Mart's famous "Coyote Call" made from his hands.

Shortly after his heart attack in 2010, he retired from his spraying business after 33 years. He moved back to Clark, and worked with his Grandson, Gavin, on several projects, including building the Legendary Black Claw Bait & Tavern in 2015. But shortly his vision of it being a bait shop and being able to visit with others, getting excited about their fishing adventures, became more than he imagined--which was great, but he needed more than what he could do on his own. Valorie & Raigan moved back to help him continue this venture, and be there for any medical needs. He had fun working with his family, seeing the Black Claw grow into what he had always imagined it could be. He very much enjoyed sitting with friends, sharing stories & listening to what they were busy working on at that time. A very special Thank You to all who took the time to stop into the Claw and visit with him, to all that shared food, drinks, stories, & friendship--he is forever grateful and will never forget all of your kindness!

In his later years, Marty enjoyed more than anything spending time with his grandkids. He loved watching his little "Penguin" (Emma) and talking with her, taking her to get lunch--which always included ice cream of course, and listening to her "adult conversations and big use of words", watching all of her dramatic expressions, and asking her where his Moose went and if she would help him find it. One of his favorite parts of the day was calling his Groundhog (Raigan) to see how school was, if she got into any fights there, to see if she told her teacher "she was dumb today", and just check in on her daily activities--and to tell jokes to each other. He loved watching her grow up into the Lady she has become--so gentle, kind & caring. He wanted more than anything to see her graduate high school, and even college-- as she has known what she has wanted to do for years, (a "squrimatologist" as Marty would call it, which would translate into Dermatologist) and Marty was so excited to see her achieve her goals. One of their favorite pastimes was watching and discussing medical shows together, along with playing checkers (always with Grandpa cheating of course), and talking about the good 'ole days. Marty and his grandson, Gavotee (Gavin), shared their passion for guns together and business work in general-- Marty was always asking Gavin what the latest gun that he bought was, or they simply just discussed work together--as working and new business ideas have always been Marty's passion.

Marty was always a great protector & provider to all of his family. He was always worried about someone, and had to make sure they were taken care of. He provided immeasurably. He gave so many adventures, life lessons, experiences, and most of all memories. He touched the lives of anybody he was around. Whether it was a great story to tell, or by making it an experience to remember...either way- he always made it interesting for all. The more exciting and interesting, the better! If you were on one of his many adventures, you will understand. He will be forever missed, but forever remembered. Whatever he was to you... Mart, Dad, Grandpa, Father-in-Law, Son, Brother, Friend...know that we love you, that you will never be forgotten, and that your memories will live on forever.

Martin was survived by his daughters: Valorie (Casey) Flatten, & Christy Beving (Jeff Hunter); his Grandkids: Gavin (24yrs- aka Gavotee) & Raigan (15yrs- aka Groundhog) Flatten, & Emma Huisenga (8yrs- aka Penguin); his mother, Corine Beving; his sister Becky (John) Pfaff; his brothers: Chuck (Holly) Beving, Joe (Linda) Beving, & Morgan (Jackie) Beving; his nieces & nephews: Mike Pfaff, Jen (Steve) Pletan, CJ (Kelsey) Beving, Alisa (Sean) DePauw, Garrett & Sabrina Beving; his great nieces & nephews: Savannah, Ali, Everett (Pletan); Chaz, Roland, Kristen, & baby Beving; Cloey Phillips & Wiley DePauw.

Preceded in death are his father Lyall Beving, his nephew Matt Pfaff, and his niece Danielle Beving.

Funeral arrangements are announced by Furness Funeral Home where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.