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Obituary
Francis Lewis Kelly was born December 17, 1921 in Beresford, SD to parents George and Margaret (Bergman) Kelly. He died April 25, 2009 at the Bethesda Nursing Home in Beresford, SD at the age of 87 years.
Francis graduated from Beresford High School in 1940. He served in the United States Navy Seabees from December 1942 to February of 1946 and was stationed in the Pacific Theater during World War II, clearing jungle and building airstrips. He returned to Beresford and attended the University of South Dakota, later transferring to Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN. After college Francis joined his father George in Kelly Construction Company. He married Dorothy Cowger in January, 1953. After George retired, Francis and Dorothy continued the construction business, drafting and building residential and commercial buildings in Beresford and neighboring towns. They also started Kelly Industrial Company, manufacturing Screedmatics and other construction equipment that he invented and patented. Dorothy passed away in 1978 and Francis continued to live in Beresford until the present time.
Francis was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church where he was a lifelong member. He was also a member of the Beresford VFW and Legion, and the Beresford Area Radio Flyer Club. Among his hobbies and interests after retirement, many of which he shared with his friend Margie, were photography, gardening, woodworking, traveling, building miniatures, and designing and building radio-controlled airplanes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and two brothers, Marvin and John Pennington Kelly.
His survivors include his children Peggy Hanson and husband Ove, Seattle, WA, Nancy Landers, Tempe, AZ, Casey Hunter and husband David of Renton, WA and John Kelly and wife Sharie of Black Canyon City, AZ; several grandchildren; sister Irene Siberell and husband John of South Bend, IN; close friend Marjorie Mahn of Cherokee, IA; and several relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM, Tuesday, April 28 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD. Inurnment will be at the Beresford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sanford Hospice or Bethesda of Beresford.
Francis graduated from Beresford High School in 1940. He served in the United States Navy Seabees from December 1942 to February of 1946 and was stationed in the Pacific Theater during World War II, clearing jungle and building airstrips. He returned to Beresford and attended the University of South Dakota, later transferring to Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN. After college Francis joined his father George in Kelly Construction Company. He married Dorothy Cowger in January, 1953. After George retired, Francis and Dorothy continued the construction business, drafting and building residential and commercial buildings in Beresford and neighboring towns. They also started Kelly Industrial Company, manufacturing Screedmatics and other construction equipment that he invented and patented. Dorothy passed away in 1978 and Francis continued to live in Beresford until the present time.
Francis was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church where he was a lifelong member. He was also a member of the Beresford VFW and Legion, and the Beresford Area Radio Flyer Club. Among his hobbies and interests after retirement, many of which he shared with his friend Margie, were photography, gardening, woodworking, traveling, building miniatures, and designing and building radio-controlled airplanes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and two brothers, Marvin and John Pennington Kelly.
His survivors include his children Peggy Hanson and husband Ove, Seattle, WA, Nancy Landers, Tempe, AZ, Casey Hunter and husband David of Renton, WA and John Kelly and wife Sharie of Black Canyon City, AZ; several grandchildren; sister Irene Siberell and husband John of South Bend, IN; close friend Marjorie Mahn of Cherokee, IA; and several relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM, Tuesday, April 28 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD. Inurnment will be at the Beresford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sanford Hospice or Bethesda of Beresford.
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