Frances M. Zeigler, age 94, of Huron, passed away Monday, September 8, 2025, at the Peaceful Pines Care Center, Huron.

View Frances' Funeral Folder

Her funeral service was held at 1:30 PM, Friday, September 19, at the Kuhler Funeral Home. Burial followed in the Riverside Cemetery. Her service was live-streamed.

Visitation with family present was held from 1:00 to 1:30 PM, Friday, September 19, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be sent in Fran's honor to: Repairers of Broken Walls Missions, 405 Robbins Ave SW, Willmar, MN 56201.

Frances Mae (Waldner) Zeigler was born on November 9, 1930, in Huron, SD to Joseph F. and Mary (Wipf) Waldner. She was the fourth of nine children born to Joe and Mary but is the oldest of the five children to survive childhood illnesses of the 1930's.

Fran grew up in Huron surrounded by extended family members, many of whom called her "Boots". She attended Huron schools, graduating from Huron High School in 1949.

In early 1950, Fran married Velmer Zeigler of Huron. In the fall of 1950, they moved to Minneapolis where Velmer was a student at North Central Bible College for one year until he was drafted into the Army. Army training and service took them to El Paso, Texas, and Lawton, Oklahoma. After Velmer's two-year military service, Frances and Velmer moved back to Huron and helped with the family farm, where sons, Kenneth and Gerald were born. While the boys were just toddlers, they relocated to Socorro, New Mexico living there from 1956 to 1974. They expanded their family in New Mexico, with their three girls being born there. In 1974, Fran and Velmer made their final trek home again to the family farm north of Huron. Fran loved the peace and quiet of their farm and lived there with Velmer until just 9 days before she left to her eternal home.

Fran started working in her teens as a waitress, and as a cashier in a grocery store where she met Velmer, since he often picked up grocery orders for his mother.

Just out of high school, one of Fran's teachers recommended her to the Northwest Public Service office in Huron, who entrusted her with a job as a bookkeeper. In the following years, she was employed by the Sears Roebuck company, working for them in customer service in the Huron, Minneapolis, El Paso and Fort Lawton. After the move to Socorro, she worked for their competitor, Montgomery Ward's. In the late 70's when her child-rearing days were nearing an end, Frances obtained a secretarial degree from the Huron Business College. With these new skills, she became the secretary in the Registrar's Office at Huron College for 10 years. She spent the last 9 years of her working career as the secretary and bookkeeper for Huron First Assembly of God church. She retired in 1995.

Fran and Velmer devoted their time to their family, sharing their deep love of God with them. They also devoted their time to the Assembly of God churches where they were members in both Socorro and Huron. Fran volunteered in multiple capacities including being a Sunday School teacher as early as age 13. Over the years, she served in the areas of home visitation, children's bus ministry, mission's committee member, Sunday school and kitchen coordination, among other roles. She was one of the first women to be elected to the board of deacons for her church in Huron. Well into her eighth decade, she could still be found in the nursery, taking care of children.

Fran and Velmer raised their 5 children in the communities of Socorro and Huron. Though Fran claimed she did not like cooking and baking, she was a great cook and made amazing meals for her family and for large groups at church. For many years, the fall season would find her canning and freezing the bountiful harvest from Velmer's vegetable garden and fruit trees. She canned oodles of tomatoes and tomato juice and was forever in pursuit of the perfect pickle recipe!

Fran loved to laugh, her laughter often turning to tears and laughter. She had a lovely soprano voice and could often be heard singing hymns. Until her elder years, she was the queen of Chinese checkers, and rarely could be beat. She had a streak of feisty that could be used when needed. She continued to be a prankster even to the end, often running into you from behind with her walker.

Fran was known for her gentleness, kindness, generosity and humbleness. Fran had character of gold. She was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, committing her life to Christ in her childhood. Though now gone from this life, heaven has become of sweeter place because she is now in the presence of Jesus, healed and whole again, and with loved ones who have gone before.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Clarence, Marvin, Alfred and Rodney; sisters, Mary Ann, Dorothy and Josephine; and daughter, Debra Wetzler.

She is survived by Velmer, her husband of 75 years; children, Kenneth (Vernona) Zeigler, Port Angeles, WA, Gerald Zeigler, Parachute, CO, Deanna (John) Holmquist, Doland, SD and Donna (Greg) Riley, Rapid City, SD; son-in-law, Mark Wetzler (Milaca, MN); brother, Eugene (Dorothy) Waldner, Huron, SD; 10 grandchildren, (Michelle (Wicus) McGuffey and Justin Zeigler of Port Angeles, WA, Kayla (Ben), Kjetland, Rapid City, SD, Shawn (Nicole) Holmquist, Aberdeen, SD, Shane (Ashley) Holmquist, Huron SD, Heith (Stefany) Wetzler, Burnsville, MN, Heather (Dan) Pfannenstein, Cold Springs, MN, Brennan (Peyton) Riley, Aztec, NM, Danae Riley (husband, Ben Kolter), St. Paul, MN and Megan Riley, Reno, NV. She is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Peaceful Pines and HRMC Hospice team for giving her excellent and loving care.

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