Francis Elder

Funeral services for Francis Elder, 68, of Timber Lake were held Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at the United Parish Church in Timber Lake. Burial was at the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Francis passed away suddenly Monday, January 29, 2024 at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.

Francis “Dooner” C. Elder was born on June 25, 1955 to Gilbert and Genieve (Scott) Elder in Mobridge.

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 Ketch Pen Pool Hall and the Timber Lake Laundromat. After many years he took over the Elder Family Farm, the fourth generation to own the farm. He started a fencing company that was in high demand due to skills that he honed over 40 years. It was while building over 50 miles of fence at the Sandland Ranch near Selfridge, ND that he met the love of his life, Jackie. On June 25, 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 ranchers 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 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 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 of Timber Lake and Derek Weigel of Grand Junction, CO; grandchildren Kessa, Jackson, and John; siblings Bonnie (Bernie) Boysen of Firesteel, Allan Elder of Box Elder, Carol (Jim) Reh of Sapulpa, OK, Elaine (Dennis) Neigel of Eagle Butte; Aunt Lorraine Gouldin of Spearfish; and 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 and Jesse and Johanna (Sogge) Elder; aunts Isabelle Holzer, and Lucille Enright, and uncles Charles Scott, Bruce Elder, and Truman Elder.