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Mavis D. Fransen Feb 21 1927 - Jan 11 2011
Funeral services for Mavis Darlene Fransen, age 83, of Watertown, SD, formerly Waverly, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Watertown. Pastor Steven Bailey will officiate. Music will be provided by Bruce Reinhardt as pianist with Wendy Landmark as soloist. Mavis passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at a care center in Watertown. She was the widow of Charles Fransen. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Mavis’ caregivers from Jenkins Living Center. Pallbearers will be Mavis’ grandchildren: Troy Noeldner, Amy Wilson, Jacki Nichols, Jeff Hartley, Cody Fransen, Eric Fransen, Michael Riley, Brian Riley, Courtney Fransen, Connor Fransen, Collin Fransen, Mackenzie Fransen, Jared Fransen, Brandon DeBoer, Logan DeBoer, Briana DeBoer, and Dalton DeBoer. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services on Saturday at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Mavis was born on February 21, 1927, at South Shore, SD, to Chris and Emily (Mickelson) Sansted. She graduated from South Shore High School. Following graduation, Mavis taught at a country school in Grant County. On October 4, 1947, Mavis married Charles Fransen. The couple moved to a farm near Waverly where she lived for 57 years. She was involved in the Waverly community and at the school. She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ where she was active in the Ladies’ Guild. Mavis loved spending time with family and friends. She also enjoyed gardening, especially flowers, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s events. She loved her dog, Pal, and enjoyed watching and feeding the birds. Mavis is survived by her seven children: Rosalind (Jim) Noeldner of Shakopee, MN, Ken (Wendy) Fransen of Watertown, SD, Maureen (Greg) Riley of Ellendale, MN, Mark Fransen of Waverly, SD, Greg (Jackie) Fransen of Watertown, SD, Brad (Mary) Fransen of Watertown, SD, and Sharlene (Jerome) DeBoer of Clear Lake, SD; 17 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Vionna Falle, of Imperial Beach, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband, in 1998, her parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

Mavis D. Fransen
Feb 21 1927 - Jan 11 2011

Funeral services for Mavis Darlene Fransen, age 83, of Watertown, SD, formerly Waverly, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Watertown. Pastor Steven Bailey will officiate. Music will be provided by Bruce Reinhardt as pianist with Wendy Landmark as soloist. Mavis passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at a care center in Watertown. She was the widow of Charles Fransen.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Mavis’ caregivers from Jenkins Living Center. Pallbearers will be Mavis’ grandchildren: Troy Noeldner, Amy Wilson, Jacki Nichols, Jeff Hartley, Cody Fransen, Eric Fransen, Michael Riley, Brian Riley, Courtney Fransen, Connor Fransen, Collin Fransen, Mackenzie Fransen, Jared Fransen, Brandon DeBoer, Logan DeBoer, Briana DeBoer, and Dalton DeBoer.

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services on Saturday at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service.

Mavis was born on February 21, 1927, at South Shore, SD, to Chris and Emily (Mickelson) Sansted. She graduated from South Shore High School. Following graduation, Mavis taught at a country school in Grant County.

On October 4, 1947, Mavis married Charles Fransen. The couple moved to a farm near Waverly where she lived for 57 years. She was involved in the Waverly community and at the school.

She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ where she was active in the Ladies’ Guild. Mavis loved spending time with family and friends. She also enjoyed gardening, especially flowers, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s events. She loved her dog, Pal, and enjoyed watching and feeding the birds.

Mavis is survived by her seven children: Rosalind (Jim) Noeldner of Shakopee, MN, Ken (Wendy) Fransen of Watertown, SD, Maureen (Greg) Riley of Ellendale, MN, Mark Fransen of Waverly, SD, Greg (Jackie) Fransen of Watertown, SD, Brad (Mary) Fransen of Watertown, SD, and Sharlene (Jerome) DeBoer of Clear Lake, SD; 17 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Vionna Falle, of Imperial Beach, CA.

She was preceded in death by her husband, in 1998, her parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

Guest book

Comment posted by: Allen Dianne Stark
Sat 15th Jan 2011 09:24 pm

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, for the loss of your Mother.

Allen& Dianne Stark

Comment posted by: Chrissy Erling
Fri 14th Jan 2011 07:20 am

You will be very much missed Aunt Mavis, but I know you and Uncle Chuck are smiling down at all of us from Heaven.

Our thoughts and prayers to our Fransen family.

Love, Chrissy and Michael

Comment posted by: Dick and Sandra Hansen
Fri 14th Jan 2011 07:03 am

Dear Friends, So sorry to hear that your mother passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with all. We will always hold on to all the fun memories we shared together at AMPI Conventions we attended all those years.Your Mom , what a wonderful example of life she was, always a smile on her face, so kind and loving and full of fun. God blessed her with a wonderful family and a great life. She will be missed by all that knew her. With Sympathy and Love- Dick and Sandra

Comment posted by: Nancy Evjen Amberg
Fri 14th Jan 2011 06:16 am

May God comfort you in your sorrow. I am thankful we know they go to a better place. Your family has always meant so much to me, I'm sorry I can't be with you on Saturday. My prayers are with you.

Comment posted by: Carol Sage
Fri 14th Jan 2011 06:13 am

Fransen Family: Just wanted to share a few memories with you. Three things I will always remember Mavis for are chocolate cake, home made ice cream and her flowers. When we were all growing up we always went to Mavis's on Christmas to eat and have ice cream. She always complained about to many flower pots to water in the summer.
My folks always appreciated the things Mavis done when I couldn't be their. God blessyou all.

Comment posted by: John and Abby Jackson
Thu 13th Jan 2011 12:09 pm

So sorry to hear about Mavis's passing. Both of your folks were great people and very supportive when I was at Waverly. May God be with your family.

Comment posted by: Amy Strang Thompson
Tue 11th Jan 2011 01:24 pm

Hello Fransen Family,
I am very sorry to hear about the passing of Mavis. She was such a great lady! I remember talking to her at many Woodchuck basketball games and visiting her with my Grandma Wall. She will be greatly missed.

My thoughts are with you all during this time.

Jeremy, Amy, Cody, Monty and Ty Thompson

Comment posted by: Jim and Debbie Carter
Tue 11th Jan 2011 12:32 pm

I will miss you so much Aunt Mavis. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Roz, Kenny, Maury, Mark, Greg, Brad, & Sharlene. Love you! Jim, Debbie, & Puppy.

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