Marsha Titus

Marsha Titus, 89, Rapid City, S.D. formerly of Lead, S.D., passed away peacefully Tues., March 5, 2024, in Rapid City. Funeral Services will be at 8:45 AM Fri. Mar. 15, 2024 at Kirk Funeral Home. Marsha was born in Pierre, S.D. on Feb. 3, 1935, to Thomas and Anna Brooks. She was raised in Murdo, S.D. and was the middle child of three, with an older sister, Beverly, and younger brother, Duane.

Marsha was a self-professed tomboy and loved playing baseball, riding bicycles, and climbing trees. A hard worker, she took great pride in caring for her family’s yard. She enjoyed this activity throughout her life. She was also fond of all animals, especially dogs. In school, she participated in many extracurricular activities including sports, band, cheerleading, the school paper, and student council. She was well-liked by peers and honored with several recognitions.

Marsha graduated from Murdo High School in 1953 and enrolled at Black Hills State Teachers College in Spearfish, S.D. There, she met the love of her life, Elden (“Pratt”) Titus. Marsha and Pratt married on April 20, 1956, in Pierre, later moving to Lead where she taught first grade. They had a son, Stacey Titus, and she became a stay-at-home mom, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Marsha was very artistic, completing illustrations, paintings, and murals. She resumed teaching in Deadwood, S.D. where she taught second grade until she retired in 1992. She loved being an educator, nurturing and interacting with “her kids.”

Marsha took great pride in riding her own motorcycles, starting in the 1960s, when doing so was unusual for a woman. In retirement, Marsha and Pratt took many extended road trips, visiting family and pursuing new adventures, eventually visiting all forty-eight continental states.

In 2002, Marsha and Pratt moved from Lead to the Hisega area to be closer to their son Stacey (Marilyn) and grandson, Benjamin. Spending time with her grandson gave her great pleasure, and she enjoyed kindly mentoring him. She also enjoyed playing cards with friends and family, especially Phase 10, resulting in many worn out decks.

Marsha supported the United Methodist Churches in Murdo, Lead, and Rapid City. She was also a seventy-year member of the Murdo (now White River) Chapter of the Eastern Star.

Marsha was preceded in death by her: beloved husband “Pratt” Titus, parents Thomas Brooks and Anna (Eggers) Brooks, sister Beverly (Carroll) Andrews, aunts Florence (Ludwig) Dahlke and Mabel Eggers, cousin-in-law Wesley Mann, and cousin Earl Dahlke.

Marsha is survived by her: son, Stacey (Marilyn) Titus, and grandson, Benjamin Titus, of Rapid City; brother Duane (Glee) Brooks of Mount Shasta, Cal.; sister-in-law Marion Golonka of Canby, Ore; cousin Betty Lou Mann of Murdo, S.D.; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A memorial has been established for the local Humane society.