Cynthia Fuller, 100, of Fort Pierre passed away on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at her home, surrounded by her family.

Visitation for Cynthia will be from 4:00pm until 6:00pm on Sunday, July 30th at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pierre. Funeral services will be at 10:00am on Monday, July 31st at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pierre, with burial to follow at Scotty Philip Cemetery in Fort Pierre.

Burial will be in Scotty Philip Cemetery in Fort Pierre.

Cynthia was born at the family homestead located on Willow Creek in northern Stanley County, South Dakota. At the age of three, the family moved to Antelope Creek in southern Stanley County. Cynthia was the 12th child and the eighth girl of Otto and Ina Inez Conant Huckfeldt.

Cynthia was her own woman. She was good, honest, and hardworking, her way of doing things may not have always been the easiest way or somebody’s idea of the right way, but the job was always done and done well. Anyone that met her would say they loved her personality, her dedication, and the simple fact that Cynthia was never afraid to speak her mind.

Cynthia was always good to the younger generation helping any of those that needed it and teaching anyone that wanted to learn. Doing so she taught us the value of caring and sharing what we have with others. Although never a rich person, there was no doubt that if you needed help, she would do whatever she could to help.

Although she was a little gruff at times, she usually got her point across. Her way of doing things may be right or may be wrong, but she left you with a sense of pride. She instilled in a person to always do their best. She will be cherished; she will be missed, but she lives on in everyone’s life that she touched.

Cynthia attended Pierre high school and graduated in 1941. She then attended Northern State, where she received her teaching certificate in 1942 and then taught at several country schools.

Cynthia met Bruce Edward Fuller “The Witty Irishman” from Holabird, South Dakota at a dance out on Grey Goose. Cynthia wrote on June 3, 1942, “The day my trouble began” as Bruce left to serve in World War II. Upon his return Bruce and Cynthia moved to Long Beach California where they were married on May 29, 1946. To this union was born five children, Mark Edward, Franzisca Elise, Roger Allan, Elmer Otto, and Marlys Eleanor.

Bruce worked in the Long Beach Navy shipyards after World War II. They later moved to Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and then back to South Dakota.

Cynthia taught at the Consolidated Country school about 10 miles south of Fort Pierre, stopping in 1966. She had numerous jobs ending her working career at Lucas and Theim. Cynthia began working at Lucas and Theim around 1976. She took a year off to care for Bruce when he had cancer. After his passing in 1978 Cynthia went back to work in the jeans department at Lucas and Theim until the stores closing. In January 1989, Cynthia and others received an award from Lt. Gov. Walter Dale Miller called the Governor’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor.

Cynthia was a very active Episcopalian, the majority of her life. She worked closely with her local priest and when there was no priest, Cynthia led morning prayer services at St. Peter’s in Fort Pierre. She joined every Bible study group she could, she enjoyed Thunderhead Episcopal Church Camp, and attending BCU meetings. She was active in the Central Deanery and attended several diocesan conventions as a delegate throughout her life. If you had to ask what her favorite hobby was, it was teaching and learning, she loved to crochet and knit as well as sew. She always had a garden and did canning but teaching really was her love. You could find her teaching children in a school, a Sunday school or at an afterschool program.

She loved to create recipes, some of which turned out okay, some of which were less desirable, but you better not complain. We loved her cinnamon rolls and another friend to this day makes her “Yummie Krummies”. Her children adored teasing and harassing her about her interesting choice of food combinations.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, her loving parents and her 11 siblings. As well as several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her five children, Mark (Jan) Fuller of Danbury, WI, Franzisca (Tom) Christianson of Hamel, MN, Roger (Marla) Fuller of Fort Pierre, SD, Elmer (Jan Holtz) Fuller of St Paul, MN and Marlys (Bob) Fratzke  of Fort Pierre, SD.

Her nine grandchildren, Rachel (Dylan) Izquiedo, Sarah (Brian Lesteburg) Fuller, Kate (Adam) Toles, Dawn (Casey) Dirkx of Rockford MN, Chad (Girlfriend Jessica) Cowan of Fort Pierre, SD, Susie Fuller of Medford, OR, Alison of St. Paul MN, Jacob Fratzke  of Fort Pierre, SD and Tori Fratzke  of Fort Pierre, SD. Her six great-grandchildren, Ella and Noah Izquiedo, Wyeth Lesteburg, Naomi and Harold Toles, Cody (Girlfriend Trisha) Dirkx and Zander and Zayla Cowan.

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