Britton: The funeral for Frances G. Behnke will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Britton. The Rev. Lloyd Redhage will officiate.
Burial will be in the Britton Cemetery.
Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Price Funeral Chapel of Britton.
Frances Gertrude Hassebroek was born Dec. 24, 1932, on the family farm near Amherst to Walter and Geertje (Luitjens) Hassebroek. She grew up there and attended school in Amherst. After her graduation from Amherst High School, Frances remained at home to care for her father.
On Feb. 14, 1953, Frances was united in marriage with Ervin "Pat" Behnke at St. John's Lutheran Church in Britton. They farmed east of Britton all of their married life. Frances was not only a farm wife and mother, but also truly a farmhand for Pat. She was right by his side through all of the work and chores of operating the farm and dairy. Whether it was scooping grain, driving the tractor, pitching manure or feeding the calves, Frances was right there. She raised, butchered and sold chickens and turkeys. Every year, Frances would plant and tend a large garden and can the produce.
Pat passed away June 15, 1995. Frances remained on the farm, but called on her son Eugene or neighbors to help her with trapping the skunks, pocket gophers and woodchucks that are constant problems on the farm. Eventually, Eugene taught Frances to set the traps and shoot the varmints herself!
Frances was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Britton and had been active in the LWML group. She also belonged to a quilting group through the church that had supplied many quilts to the needy. Frances had a quick sense of humor and a twinkle in her eyes that would make them light up.
Frances passed away Saturday, June 15, 2013, at Wheatcrest Hills in Britton, exactly 18 years to the day after the death of her husband, Pat. She had reached the age of 80 years, five months and 22 days.
Grateful for having shared her life are her two sons: Eugene (Betty) Behnke of Britton and Darwin (Patty) Behnke of Rapid City; four grandchildren: Sarah (Matt) Burkel, Kelly Volk, Christy Behnke and Eric Behnke; four great-grandchildren: Lane and Ty Burkel and Klayton and Keanna Volk; two sisters: Inez Knock of Bryant and Grayce Beilke of Aberdeen; as well as a number of nieces; nephews and their families.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; three brothers: Henry, Frederick and Fritz Hassebroek; a sister, Katie Knock; and a great-granddaughter, Isabel Burkel.
An online guestbook and obituary is available at pricefuneralchapel.net.