Francis Elder | 1955 - 2024
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jan 30, 2024 | 3:58 PM / 130 views
Francis Elder of Timber Lake, South Dakota
June 25, 1955 – January 29, 2024
Funeral services for Francis Elder, 68, of Timber Lake will be at 11 AM, Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at the United Parish in Timber Lake. Burial will be at the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be at 6 PM Tuesday with a prayer service at 7 PM at the church. Francis passed away Monday, January 29, 2024 at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck.
Francis “Dooner” C Elder was born on June 25, 1955 to Gilbert and Genieve (Scott) Elder in Mobridge South Dakota. He passed suddenly in Bismarck, North Dakota on January 29, 2024. The funeral will be held February 7, 2024 at the United Prairie Parish Church in Timber Lake with burial at the Timber Lake Cemetery. Lunch to follow at the Timber Lake Community Center.
Francis attended Long Butte Country School for several years then attended the Timber Lake School, graduating in 1973. He was active in rodeo in high school. After high school, he worked for many area farmers and ranchers helping with brandings, feeding, planting and harvesting crops. He worked for Walter Hager for many many years. He worked and managed the Thorstenson Ranch in McLaughlin for several years. He also owned and managed the Ketchpen Pool Hall and the Timber Lake Laundromat. After many years he took over the Elder Family Farm, he was the fourth generation to own the farm. He also started a successful fencing company that was in high demand due to his superior skills that he honed over 40 years. It was while building over 50 miles of fence at the Sandland Ranch near Selfridge, North Dakota that he met the love of his life, Jackie. On June 25th, 2004, he married his soulmate Jaquline Bigger on his 49th birthday. They were married on the farm just like his parents Gilbert and Genieve.
He loved to fence, his gates were so tight you needed a wire stretcher to open them. He built fences for many area farmers and ranches in South Dakota and North Dakota. He also built the fencess that are still in use at Bear Country USA in the Black Hills. He built miles of fences and did erosion control work along South Dakota highways. He would be driving down the road with Jackie and point out each of the fences he had built and tell her about what it was like to build it including what the weather was like on that day and who helped. He loved to ride his horses. There were not many years he missed riding his horse in the annual Days of 1910 Celebration as well as the Christmas Parade of Lights. He was also a member of the Moose.
Francis loved to play cards nearly every day at Timber Lake Service. He would call Jackie any time he won and tell her how much he earned that day. Afterwards, he would go home and do chores and watch TV with his dog, Charming, curled up in his lap. Sometimes, Rod Enright and Francis would drive around and inspect the country.
Francis is survived by his wife, Jacquline Bigger-Elder; step-sons Johnathan (Kayla) Bigger, Timber Lake and Derek Weigel, Grand Junction, CO; grandchildren Kessa, Jackson, and John. Siblings Bonnie (Bernie) Boysen, Firesteel, SD, Allan Elder, Box Elder, SD, Carol (Jim) Reh Supalpa, OK, Elaine (Dennis) Neigel, Eagle Butte SD; Aunt Lorraine Gouldin, Spearfish, SD; numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Genieve Elder; one sister, Darlene Elder; grandparents, Harry and Pearl (Glerup) Scott, Jesse and Johanna (Sogge) Elder; aunts Isabelle Holzer, Lucille Enright, and uncles Charles Scott, Bruce Elder, and Truman Elder.