Funeral services for Francis J. Serck, age 92, of Watertown, SD, will be at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown, SD.  David Nelson will officiate.  Music will be provided by Karen Livingston as organist and Don Seim as soloist. Francis passed away on Friday, February 26, 2010, at a care center in Watertown.

     Burial will be held in the spring at Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake, SD.  Military honors will be provided by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, Watertown, and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be: Matthew Westall, Jerry Linder and Elroy Pinkert.  Active pallbearers will be: Chris Hustad, Josh Nelson, Kevin Nelson,  Roger Weiss, Lyndon Limberg, and Garry Dumke. 

     Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., prior to the services. The family is requested to meet at the chapel on Tuesday by 11:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

     Francis was born on February 11, 1918, on a farm in Inwood, IA, to John and Milla (Dehn) Serck.  He was the oldest of their three children.  The family moved to SD (Altamont area), sometime in the 30’s, where they continued to farm.  It was here that Francis met his future wife, Irene.  He graduated from Aggie School in Brookings. 

      On January 23, 1943, Francis married Irene Johnson at Altamont, SD.  After their marriage, the couple moved to Denver, CO, where Francis was stationed in the U.S. Army Air Force.  He served in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.  After Francis was discharged from the service, they moved to Watertown, where he managed the Mellette Turkey Farm for many years. Francis left the Mellette Turkey Farm and worked for Herb Jenson in a variety of different capacities. Irene passed away on June 29, 2009.

     He was active in the Golden K (Kiwanis Club) for many years, serving in several leadership roles.  He was responsible for the beautiful ‘flower flag’ that was an annual attraction on Hwy. 212 by the municipal pool.  Francis was very active at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, serving many years as head usher, and he and Irene were very supportive of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church and School and Great Plains Lutheran High School. He loved gardening and carpentering.  Francis remodeled their entire home with the help of his brother.  He always had his camera with him and took thousands of pictures throughout his lifetime.

     Francis is survived by his three daughters:  Pennie (David) Nelson of Wauwatosa, WI, Patty (Keith) Wolter of Fargo, ND, and Pamela (Jim) Vose of Lancaster, CA; seven grandchildren: Lisa Wolter (Chris) Hustad, Josh (Erika) Nelson, Hollie Nelson (Andy) Szymanski, Katie Nelson, Kevin Nelson, Matthew Westall, and Ashleigh Westall; three great-grandchildren: Wyatt and Brooklyn Hustad and Abigail Szymanski; his sister, Arla (Harry) Pinkert, of Big Stone City, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Irene; his parents; and his brother, Marvin.