Frank Lawrence Thaler

Wagner, SD

?, Unknown camp in the Black Hills,

Funeral services for Frank L. Thaler, 95 of Mitchell and formerly of Avon will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at the First Presbyterian Church in Avon. Burial will be 4:00 p.m. at the Tyndall Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel in Avon from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to the "Sunshyne Benevolent Fund" at the SD Dental Association, which provides dental care for needy children.

Frank Lawrence Thaler, son of Lawrence and Barbara (Mikuska) Thaler, was born February 28, 1911 in Hutchinson County, South Dakota. He died Friday, August 18, 2006 at the Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Frank attained the age of 95 years, five months and 21 days.

Frank moved with his family to Charles Mix County where he attended rural school south of Wagner. He also attended high school in Wagner, after his father's death made it necessary for his mother to move into Wagner. The necessity to be the provider caused Frank to quit school in his third year of high school and work at a variety of jobs. The depression of the 1930's did away with the jobs, so he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was stationed in the Black Hills. A bout with rheumatic fever sent him home with an honorable discharge.

On September 4, 1938, Frank married Sunshyne Berry, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Neil Berry of Dante. Three children were born to their union. They lived in Wagner and Scotland, where Frank worked as a grocery clerk for W. J. Wolfe in Wagner and Rivins in Scotland. They later moved to Avon, where he worked for Emma Weidenbach and Stub McLane. From 1951 to 1956, Frank and his wife ran Frank's Grocery in Avon. The family lived in Illinois the summer of 1957, where Frank and son, Nick worked for Green Giant, canning peas and corn. A serious illness sent them all back to their home in Avon. From 1958 to his retirement in 1976, Frank worked for the Bon Homme County Highway Department, grading roads and pushing snow. Frank and Shyne made their home in Avon for 59 years before moving into the Prairie Crossings Assisted Living Center in Mitchell in 2001.

Frank was a volunteer fireman in Avon for many years. When he wasn't selling groceries, he did small engine repair. His hobbies included fishing and hunting. As he got older, his pastime was sitting on the back porch smoking one of his many pipes.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife, Sunshyne of Mitchell; children: Nick and wife, Bev of South San Francisco, CA., Marge Engel and husband, Gary of Mitchell and Dr. Mel and wife, Loo of Sioux Falls; five grandchildren: Angie (Nathan ) Putnam, Scott (Colleen) Engel, Mark Thaler, Neil (Paula) Thaler, and Robert (Sandi) Thaler; and three great grandchildren.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Albert and Joseph; and five sisters: Treasia Hill, Mary Mathis, Rose Olson, Anna Wyland and Kathryn Demmon.

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