Fritz was born May 14, 1923, at Sturgis to Joseph and Bertha "Collins" Fonck. He grew up on the family homestead which was 25 miles East of Sturgis and 6 miles South of Volunteer, SD. He attended grade school at Wolf School District #24, South of Volunteer. He left home at the age of 12 years with the influence of the great depression and the dirty 30's, in search of work. He had many jobs for 60 cents per week with room and board and some jobs at 50 cents per day. He worked his way through high school with various jobs around the area. After completing high school he entered the US Navy.

Upon the end of his hitch and World War II, he returned with an honorable discharge to Sturgis where he married Betty Lou Simmons of Piedmont, SD. To this union of 25 years, three sons were born.

Fritz worked at different jobs around the area including Chase's Department Store, US Post Office, Ft. Meade VA Hospital, and all four sale barns in the area for 32 years. He also worked for several registered cattle outfits as herdsman. He worked for the State of South Dakota at the McNenny Fish Hatchery for 19 and a half years before his retirement due to a serious heart overhaul.

He still kept a job on a ranch near Union Center, SD. Fritz raised and broke horses and mules all through his life. He was a wagon master for the Black Hills National Cemetery Centennial Wagon Train into Deadwood's Days of '76 for 32 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, American Legion and the riding clubs of the area on his mules.

Fredrick Joseph "Fritz" Fonck, 93, Union Center, SD, died Thursday, July 28, 2016, at the VA Black Hills Health Care Center at Fort Meade.

Survivors include his son Thomas (Ginger) Fonck, West Virginia; five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, two great - great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 1, 2016, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Officiants Pastor Harold Delbridge and Pastor Denzel Nonhof. Burial with military honors follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery near Sturgis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, two brothers, five sisters, one granddaughter and a very precious friend, Yvonne Ferguson.

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