Funeral services for Sam Artz of Glenns Ferry, ID will be held Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Southern Baptist Church in Mountain Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, SD, followed by interment at Greenwood Cemetery in Brookings. Visitation will be begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Samuel Dexter Artz was born March 4, 1941 in Brookings, SD at the old hospital on the northwest side of the South Dakota State University campus to Dexter and Marian (Geitz) Artz. Sam passed away on September 5, 2020 in Twin Falls, ID at the age of 79

He was educated through Brookings Public Schools graduating in 1959. He enlisted in the United States Navy following graduation and after a four year hitch, returned to Brookings and enrolled in the Economics program at South Dakota State. He met his wife Gladys (Santema) while at State and they were married on August 14, 1965. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in 1968 and entered into the family business, Artz Locker and Soft Water Service, which he ran until his retirement in 1997.

A lifelong community servant, Sam was a member of the Brookings Jaycees, Exchange Club, the Elks Club, American Legion, and 40 et 8. For several years, he was Cubmaster for the Brookings Boy Scouts organization. In the Brookings First Presbyterian Church, Sam served on various church boards and was a Sunday School teacher for a year. Sam followed up ten years on the Brookings Park Board with a run for City Commission. He served in city government for eleven years. Sam served 18 years in the Naval Reserve.

He lost his wife of 34 years on March 19, 2000. On January 23, 2003, Sam was united in marriage to Darlene Server. They relocated to Glenns Ferry, ID in 2006 and lived in a home overlooking the Snake River.

Sam is survived by his wife Darlene, four children, Sheila (Brian) Ring of Onida, SD; Connie (Dallas) Bridges of Brookings, SD; Kelly (Bonita) Artz of Eden Prairie, MN; and Emily (Jerry) Shepherd of Watertown, SD; three step-children Curt (Macrina) McDonald of Vancouver, WA; Mike (Ann) McDonald; and Linette Jordan; twenty-two grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one sister, Peggy (Clarence) Kalsbeek; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Gladys.