Frances Kunde

Frances Lucille (Mrs. Kenneth) Kunde, age 99, of Milbank, SD, died on August 11, 2019, at Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019, at 2:00 pm. at Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 16, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the church, and will continue one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday. Rev. Kent Groethe will officiate, and burial will be at LaBolt Cemetery.

Casket bearers will be: John Sneed, Rick Estenson, Brian Estenson, Dennis Estenson, Aaron Dolen, and Adam Dolen. Musicans will be Brenda Handel-Johnson, pianist and John Sneed, vocalist.

Frances Lucille (Bates) Kunde was born on May 15, 1920, in Lac Qui Parle County (three miles southeast of Marietta, MN). She was the fourth of seven children born to Lewellyn and Emma (Schuler) Bates. She attended country grade school for eight years. Frances married Selmer Estenson and had four children: Selmer Jr., Jean, Sharon, and Dennis. She was married to Norman Dolen for 32 years, and raised a son, Terry. She worked with the Visiting Neighbor Program for eleven years and enjoyed helping others in their homes.

On March 24, 1984, Frances married Kenneth Kunde, and through this union acquired four stepchildren: Jane, Joan, Jean, and Jim. Ken and Fran traveled for 20 years all around the United States and wintered many years in Arizona. Fran was known for her wonderful cooking and baking, and she was also a master gardener. She had a special fondness for flowers and could never seem to have enough. Some of her other interests were listening to music, dancing, going to Branson, fishing, playing cards, reading, sewing, watching baseball, and entertaining in her home. She was always ready for a good time. Although her hands were very familiar with hard work, she always kept her nails manicured and perfectly polished. She epitomized ‘forever young’ with her ‘can do’ attitude and by keeping active.

Fran’s faith was important to her, and she felt that God had richly blessed her throughout her lifetime.

Frances is survived by her husband, Kenneth Kunde of Milbank, SD; daughters: Jean Angelson of Springfield, MO; and Sharon Eakes of Lake Benton, MN; daughters-in-law: Rose Estenson of Joplin, MO Julie (Steve) Heggestad of Montevideo, MN; and Robin Vaselaar of Lake Benton, MN; stepchildren: Jane (Jim) Rooker of Atwood, TN; Joan (Tom) Wagner of Marvin, SD; Jean (Derwin) Dorale of Watertown, SD; and Jim (Melody) Kunde of Milbank, SD; and 29 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Lewellyn and Emma; husband, Norman Dolen; sons: Terry, Selmer, Jr., and Dennis; sons-in-law: Harry Angelson and Webb Eakes; and grandchildren: Jackie Schell, Shelly Alexander, and Eddie Rooker.