Clarence Franka

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Clarence Virgil Franka, age 84, of Garretson, died on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at the Palisade Healthcare Community in Garretson. Memorial services will begin at 1:30 PM Saturday, January 3, 2015, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Memorial visitation with the family present will be from 5-7:00 PM Friday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.

Clarence Virgil Franka was born on June 13 ^th , 1930 at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, to John and Bertha (Bieck) Franka. Clarence went to school in Garretson, SD and graduated from Garretson High School in 1950. In January 1951 he enlisted in the National Guard and was sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama. He was honorably discharged in 1953 and returned to Garretson to marry his high school sweetheart Mary Ann Schurman. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Garnett, Kansas where he started work for Great Lakes Pipeline Company returning to the Garretson area about 1957. After returning home he worked for John Morrell for 31 years. After retirement they moved to Underwood, Minnesota to their lake home. In 2009 they moved to Britton, SD, where they lived for 3 years, returning once again to the Garretson area in 2012. Clarence was a long time member of the Garretson American Legion and the 40 & 8.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann, of Garretson; sons, Greg (Barb) Franka of Garretson, Steve Franka of Garretson, and Alan (Gayle) Franka of Britton; grandchildren: Stacy (Lance) Bennett of Britton, Mike (Kirsten) Franka of El Paso, TX, and Jeremy, Jared, and Shane Franka, all of Garretson; great-grandchildren: Tynan and Kiera Bennett of Britton, Mila Franka of El Paso, and Aryana and Jaxton Franka of Garretson; brother, Melvin (Pat) Franka of Sioux Falls; and a sister, Alice Leslie of Norman, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Lawrence and Leo.