Mary Ann Fransen

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Mary Fransen, 88, of Huron, formerly of Pierre and Gettysburg, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Huron Regional Medical Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 11, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gettysburg, with Fr. Jerry Kopel presiding. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Gettysburg. A rosary will be 4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 10, 2021 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Huron with a visitation two hours prior.  Those attending are required to wear masks. A live broadcast of the funeral service will also be available. 

Mary Ann Garrity was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, South Dakota on July 24, 1932 to Arthur Garrity and Evelyn Anderson Garrity, the first of 10 children. She died on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at Huron Regional Medical Center in Huron, South Dakota.

The Garrity family initially lived on a rented farm a short distance north of Blunt, South Dakota before moving to the Garrity homestead farm in Bretton Township, southwest of Harrold, Hughes County, South Dakota. Mary Ann grew up in the 3-bedroom homestead farmhouse built by her father and grandfather. She attended school from first grade through high school in Harrold. Mary Ann graduated from Harrold High School in 1950 as the class valedictorian. During childhood and her school years, she was active in high school basketball, high school band, declam and 4-H. Mary Ann attended one year of college at South Dakota State College, now South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota.

Mary Ann married Franklin Delano Fransen of Gettysburg, South Dakota on October 20, 1951 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Harrold. They lived for a short time on the former Fransen farm northeast of Gettysburg, South Dakota prior to moving to Martin, South Dakota. While living in Martin, she worked for the Superintendent of Schools. In late 1952, Mary Ann and Frank moved to the Hobus Farm east of Gettysburg. They lived for a time on the Kamen Farm west of Warner, South Dakota and the Voorhes Farm west of Gettysburg.

In 1955, Frank and Mary Ann operated the Garrity Farm near Harrold following the death of her father. They lived in Pierre, South Dakota for a time before returning to Gettysburg in 1958. They moved their family to Redfield, South Dakota in November 1959. Their family grew to seven children before they returned to Gettysburg in August 1964, and their youngest child was born in 1969. Mary Ann was heavily involved in community activities and in their children’s lives. These activities included the Catholic Church Alter Society, PTA, children’s school activities, Redfield Jaycettes, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, CCD classes, their children’s sports activities, and years of square dancing and clogging. Among her greatest of joys was spending time with her grandchildren. They also enjoyed family camping activities with their children and grandchildren.

Mary Ann was employed by the Potter County News newspaper and later the First Potter County Bank (later First Bank Gettysburg). Frank and Mary Ann moved to Pierre, South Dakota in 1987. Mary Ann was employed at American State Bank from 1987 to 1997 and at All Around Graphics from 1997 to 2015. They moved to Huron, South Dakota in 2015 to live with their daughter Mary Lynn Schmidt and family.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 69 years Franklin Fransen of Huron, SD; her children Shirley Rush of Pierre, SD; David (Vicki) Fransen of Aberdeen, SD; Gerald (Peggy) Fransen of Parrish, FL; Patrick Fransen of Pierre, SD; Jean (Bob) Oberfoell of Ashton, SD; Kathy (John) Heier of Aberdeen, SD; and Mary (Lonnie) Schmidt of Huron, SD. In addition, she is survived by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and their families as well as many nieces and nephews. Special to her were her siblings, and she looked forward each year to the annual sibling reunion in October. Those siblings include her brothers Robert (Gloria) Garrity of Ft. Pierre, SD; Dr. Thomas Garrity of Hoven, SD; Michael Garrity of Pierre, SD; and sisters Patricia Rausch of Pierre, SD; Kay (Robert) Pfeil of Clear Lake, SD; Marjory Gregg of Ft. Pierre, SD; and Carol (Dan) Bancroft of Rapid City, SD. In addition, she acquired 8 stepbrothers and stepsisters when her mother and William Rausch were married in Hoven, South Dakota in 1963.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by two infant sons; Joseph in 1955 and Luke in 1958; her daughter Pamela Fransen Hoag in 2001, her father Arthur Garrity in 1955, her mother Evelyn Anderson Garrity Rausch in 1986, her brother Richard Garrity in 2015, her brother James Garrity in 2013, her grandparents, her stepfather William Rausch in 1994, two stepbrothers, and several nieces and nephews.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Mary’s arrangements.