Frank Ducheneaux

Funeral services for Frank Ducheneaux, 81, of Timber Lake were held Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at the Timber Lake Community Center with interment at the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Frank passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 at his home.

Frank Edward Ducheneaux was born to Edward and Alice (Oltmanns) Ducheneaux on July 26, 1939 at the Old Cheyenne Agency. He joined sisters Edwina, Nellie and Keva, soon followed by younger brother Terry. They lived at Uncle Doug Ducheneaux’s place along Virgin Creek.

Frank started school at Promise Day School, then attended Stephan Mission School from the second through sixth grade, then Mobridge, where he completed 10th grade.

He was drafted into the service in April 1960 and reported to Sioux Falls for his physical. He was sent to Fort Carson, CO, where he stayed for two weeks. He was then shipped to Fort Riley, KS, where he completed basic training. He was trained as an Army medic in San Antonio, TX, then stationed in Hawaii. He was shipped home for 15 days over Christmas of 1960. He traveled from Hawaii to Mobridge by ship, plane and train and arrived in negative 23 degree weather. He walked down Main Street in Mobridge and ran into Jerry Keller, who drove him to Trail City. He was home in time for Christmas. In June of 1962 Frank was honorably discharged from the Army.

After his service Frank worked in Idaho as a ranch hand riding horses and doctoring cattle.

In the fall of 1963 Frank returned home to Mobridge. That is when Carol Tatro fell in love with Frank after he gave her a ride in his brand new 1963 Chevy Impala.

In 1965 Frank bought 120 head of heifer calves from his dad. In 1966 he moved the heifers to Armstrong County and they resided there until moving to Timber Lake. Frank and Carol were married in May of 1976 in Hill City. Frank always said he made sure Carol agreed to say “honor and obey” in their wedding vows. Five children were born to this union: Edward, Mae, Paul, John and Frankie.

Frank and Carol moved to Timber Lake in 1977, which Frank said was the worst and best year of his life. In 1994, his dream was realized when he and Carol made their final home on his dad’s allotment east of Timber Lake.

After retirement Frank spent his time babysitting his grandchildren and attending their activities and sporting events. He continued raising quarter horses and took great pride in passing that passion on to his children and grandchildren.

Frank is survived by his wife Carol (Tatro) Ducheneaux of Timber Lake; four children: Edward (Jessica), Mae (Jess) Keller, John (Jenny), and Frankie (Lyndsey), all of Timber Lake; one sister Keva (Andy) Aberle of Timber Lake; special niece Kendra “Jo” (Justin) Enright of Timber Lake; 22 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Frank was preceded in death by his son, Paul Milton Ducheneaux; his parents, Ed and Alice Ducheneaux; his mother and father-in-law, Cleo and Milton Tatro; sisters Edwina Mowrer-Hollenbeck and Nellie Hollenbeck; brother Terry; sisters-in-law Nancy, Billie, Gail, and Charlotte; brothers-in-law Glen, Pinky, Vic, Leroy, Jim, and Lloyd.

(Carol Ducheneaux’s address is Box 86, Timber Lake, SD 57656.)