Mercades Dahlvang, age 32, of Piedmont, formerly of Philip, South Dakota, died on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Monument Health in Rapid City.
Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. Sunday, November 19, at First Lutheran Church in Philip.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 20, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Cindy Bisser officiating.
Interment will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.
Badass, adventurous, fun-loving, beautiful blue-eyed Mercades (Martin) Dahlvang, with the heart of an angel, was taken from us too soon. A blessing to so many troubled souls, she was welcomed into this world by her parents Randy and Peggy Martin on December 16, 1990. She grew up in Philip, South Dakota where she was a tomboy at heart riding motorcycles, working on her pickups, and caring deeply for all. She had a way with words, whether they were giving you comfort or in the many poems she wrote.
Mercades had three beautiful children with Rodney: Jaylee, Jasmine, and Maxwell. Her children were her world. She loved their antics and individual personalities. She shared her passions of hunting, fishing, exploring dirt roads with the music cranked, with them on many outings.
She graduated from Philip High School and then attended Minnesota State Community Technical College in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, majoring as an automotive technician. She moved back to Philip where she worked at Philip Health Services for the next eight years. Mercades loved her job as a home health nurse taking care of people with compassion and love, grieving deeply when someone in her care left this world. The constant deaths were too hard on her, so she took a different curve in the road and switched gears. Mercades moved to Rapid City and started attending classes at Western Dakota Tech where she graduated with an Associate degree in Applied Science of Criminal Justice in 2019. Her career path changed once again in 2020 when she did on the job training to be a certified Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens, where many co-workers laughed at her loud sneezes, will miss the echo of loud boots, and will never see a pair of crazy socks without thinking of her. She cherished all her co-worker’s friendships.
She created many fond memories while always attempting to make people laugh and spread joy during karaoke with her friends. She navigated the journey of life with a fervor for living, a touch of sassy sarcasm, a grin full of smirk, and a lively enthusiastic, “oooooh yeeeaah!!!” while seizing the moment with confidence.
Survivors include her three children: Jaylee, Jasmine, and Maxwell Dahlvang, all of Philip; parents Randy and Peggy Martin of Philip; brother Brad Osborn of Philip; father of their children, Rodney Dahlvang of Philip; and a host of aunts, uncles, and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandpa Albert “Fuzz” Martin; uncle Scott Martin; and her maternal great-grandparents.
In lieu of flowers all memorial money received will go to a college fund for her three beautiful children. Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 493 Philip, SD 57567.
