Franz Micheal Fonder, 69, Whitewood, died Tuesday, November 30, 2010, at his home in Whitewood with his family by his side.

Visitation will be noon until 9:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. The family will be present from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 3, 2010, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Rev. Mr. Kim Fonder officiating. Burial will follow at the Whitewood Cemetery.

Franz was born August 22, 1941, at Sisseton, SD, to Guiles and Liela (Douglas) Fonder. At the age of 18, Franz moved to Minnesota to live with his sister, Beatrice Bakken, due to his asthma. He worked as a tree trimmer for a telephone company for the next five years.

Franz married Barbara Ellen Nelson at Bruno, MN, on April 15, 1961. Franz worked as a custodian for the 3M Company in St. Paul and later the highway department in Duluth until 1979. The family moved to Whitewood and Franz worked at Whitewood Post and Pole for three years before working at the Bentonite Company in Colony, WY, until his retirement in 2005.

Franz enjoyed his horses, working outside, hunting, fishing, and camping. He loved his grandkids and great-grandkids very much.

Survivors include his wife, Barb Fonder, Whitewood; daughters, Pam (Dennis) Apland, Belle Fourche, Patricia Auer, Conifer, CO, and Paula (Cameron Frick) Bond, Spearfish; sisters, Betty Sommerfield, Montevideo, MN, Bel Steiner, Eden, SD, Barb Janisch, Eden, SD, and Bernita Jennen, Sisseton, SD; 8 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Rich; one brother; and six sisters.

A memorial has been established.