Dr. Frank "Francis" L. Dame, age 80, of Huron, passed away peacefully under hospice care with family at his side in his home in Huron, SD.

His memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 14, at the First United Methodist Church, Huron. His service will be live-streamed through our website.

View Frank's Memorial Folder

A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday, April 13 at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with a Time of Sharing at 7:30 PM Thursday evening. The Time of Sharing will be live-streamed as well .

Frank was born to Harold and Mildred (Carson) Dame December 1, 1942, in Bronx, New York.

He attended St. Brendan's Parochial School in the Bronx, then moved to Wantagh Long Island, New York. He attended school in Wantagh until the family moved to Livingston Manor, New York, where he graduated high school in 1960.

He then attended and graduated from State University of New York at Farmingdale where he received his Associate's Degree in Entomology (the study of insects and plant diseases). He became the manager of S. Klein Nursery in Long Island, New York.

Frank lost his sight in a car accident in 1963, but this did not deter him. In fact, he rose above it. After a long recuperation at his family home, he then pursued more education at Syracuse University where he received his Bachelor Degree in Psychology and his Master Degree in Special Education. At this time, he applied and was accepted into the PHD program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in Clinical Psychology. He successfully completed his thesis and earned his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Walden University. He lived and worked in Knoxville for several years before moving to Denver, Colorado, where he began to develop community-based alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization which was a revolutionary concept in those years. He received a call from Community Counseling Services in Huron advising they had the same grant and requested he relocate to Huron. After replying "probably not" he soon decided to take the job and developed the first community-based program in Huron. He later became Clinical Director of Community Counseling Services in Huron before moving to Pierre, South Dakota, where he established his first private practice. In 2003, he returned to Huron where he continued his private practice and was employed at Our Home Inc as well as Community Counseling Services.

He had many life achievements and accomplishments. Throughout his years, Frank was active in Lions Organization serving as President of the Huron Eye Openers Club from 1982 to 1983. He was named Outstanding Healthcare Professional by the Governor's Advisory Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities in 1991, served on the Governor's Advisors Board to the Blind and Visually Impaired from 1998 to 2005, and was President of the South Dakota Psychological Association. He was passionate about helping others and devoted to his work. When not working, he enjoyed fishing, model ships, lighthouses, the Minnesota Twins, the Denver Broncos, SDSU basketball and college football.

He was survived by his wife of 29 years, Sandy (Hart) Dame; his children, Francis C. (Sara) Dame of Cleveland, Tennessee, Matthew (Kayla) Dame of Cleveland, Tennessee, Jeff Edelman of Huron, South Dakota, Dusty Edelman of Huron, South Dakota, Jaymus (Katana) Dame of Huron, South Dakota, Katherine (Bryan) Sullivan of Waukesha, Wisconsin and Terra Edelman of Huron, South Dakota; his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Kylie Spoonemore, Jozlyn Cottingham, Graham Logan, Olivia Dame, Kenadee Spoonemore, Kenneth Dame and Kynlee McDougale; his siblings, Richard (Jean) Dame of Livingston Manor, New York, Patricia (Gary) Rogers of Livingston Manor, New York and Thomas (Kyoko) Dame of Honolulu, Hawaii; and he was the fond uncle and cousin of many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mildred Dame.

View Frank's Floral Arrangements