Sturgis - Frances "Frannie" Elizabeth Schmitz, 88, of Sturgis, S.D. passed away on April 27, 2012 at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center - Ft. Meade. Frances was born Aug. 3, 1923, in Pretty Rock, N.D. to Henry and Leona Gaugler. As a young girl, she lived on the family farm with her widowed father and six siblings, Genevieve, Joseph, Patricia, Bernice, Kathleen, and Theresa. She attended the local one-room school house, and went to high school in New Leipzig, N.D. She was active in school sports, plays and glee club. During World War II, she joined the Navy on July 27, 1944, and was a hospital Apprentice First Class, spending much of her tour stateside helping injured servicemen in various West Coast military naval hospitals. On Feb. 13, 1947, she married Lyle Simon Schmitz, also from Pretty Rock, while he was on a three-month leave from the Navy. They were married at St. John's Catholic Church in New Leipzig. Frances' maid-of-honor was her sister Patricia, and Lyle's best man was his brother Raymond. Patricia and Raymond had earlier married, so two sisters ended up married to two brothers. As a naval wife, Frances toured the world with Lyle and lived for a time in China. While there, she learned how to speak Chinese. Later they lived and raised their family in Maryland, North Carolina, and Florida. When Lyle retired from the Navy, the family moved to the southern border towns of McAllen and finally Hidalgo, TX. Their six children included the oldest twins, Yvonne and Yvette; three sons, Lyle, Mathew, and David; and the youngest daughter, Annette. When Lyle again retired, this time from the US Public Health Service, Frances, Lyle and two of her children David and Annette moved to Lemmon, S.D. They resided there for many years and eventually moved to Elgin, N.D. to be closer to their childhood pastures. Her husband Lyle passed away in November of 2000. In 2010, Frances moved to Sturgis. Frannie was an avid card player and an expert at crosswords, Sudoku, and many other puzzle games. She loved to sit and chat with family and friends. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren often listened to her tell naughty limericks and hilarious songs. They would pester her with requests for hours until all were exhausted from laughter. Frannie spent much of her free time traveling back and forth across the United States visiting her family. She loved to quilt and each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren acquired a hand-stitched quilt from her. She loved to cook and taught many of her children and in-laws how to can, once winning the top award at the Oregon County Fair for her prized dill pickle recipe. She was an excellent cook and anyone who has ever tasted her apple pies can attest to that! Survivors include her sisters, Patricia Schmitz, Elgin, and Bernice DuBoise, Henderson, NV; daughters, Yvonne (David) Seifert, Hettinger, N.D., Yvette (Danny) Jansen, Valley Park, Miss., Annette (Jason) Baumeister, Piedmont, S.D.; sons, Lyle (Sandra) Schmitz II, Franklinton, LA., Mathew (Ann) Schmitz, Newberg, OR., and David (Debbie) Schmitz, Bryan, TX.;14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. A Christian Wake Service will be held 7:00 p.m. Sunday, April 29, 2012, at the Black Hills Funeral Home in Sturgis. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 30 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis with Rev. Arnold Kari presiding. Frannie's beloved grandchildren will be her pallbearers. Burial will follow at 12:00 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors by the Sturgis Veteran's Honor Guard. Frannie will be laid to rest alongside her husband Lyle.