Frances M. Puffer, age 95, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at Avantara Huron in Huron, South Dakota. Her Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, July 8, 2022 at Welter Funeral Home with burial at Altoona Cemetery in Hitchcock, SD. Visitation, will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Visit www.welterfuneralhome.com
Frances Marie Puffer was born May 7, 1927 to Michael and Ellen (Marshall) LeGrand in Hitchcock, South Dakota. She graduated from Bonilla High School in 1945. She attended Huron College and taught country school for two years.
On September 15, 1947, she married Melvin Richard “Dick” Puffer at First United Methodist Church in Huron by Rev. B.A. Davis. Frances and Dick lived on the same family farm at Hitchcock for 61 years. Her husband passed away June 14, 2008. In October 2009, Frances moved to SunQuest Village in Huron.
Frances was an active member of the Hitchcock American Legion Auxiliary, the Senior Citizens, member of the Sunshine Club and First United Methodist Church of Huron. She was previously a member of the Hitchcock Church for thirty years, where she was the financial secretary. Frances loved to garden and cook. She enjoyed playing games—scrabble and pinochle, word searches and crossword puzzles as well. Collecting owls was a favorite pastime of hers—her collection grew to over 200. Spending time with her grandchildren was also very important to her.
She is survived by one son, Randy (Debra) Puffer of Hitchcock; three daughters, Kay Hendricks of Winslow, AZ, Kathy (Mahlon) Dirks of Meade, WA, and Ruth (Bryan) Hulsebus of Sioux Falls; nine grandchildren, Linda Smith, Michael Hendricks, Olivia Reuter, Thomas Puffer, Adelle Bauerle, Lisa Dirks, Matt Dirks, Ashley Hively and Brandon Hulsebus; 13 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren; and one sister, Betty (Wendell) Ames of Brandon, SD.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her sister Mildred Adams.
