Francis Charles Guptill was born August 18, 1922, on his parents ranch southeast of Cactus Flat, the son of Roy and Ruth (Ellis) Guptill.

They lived on various ranches in the Jackson and Washabaugh counties during his early childhood.

The family moved to a dairy farm near Elkhorn, Wisconsin where he attended three years of grade school before they returned to the Green Valley community south of Interior. He attended Green Valley Rural School before graduating from Wanblee High School.

After graduation, he attended Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell. While in college he signed up for the V-12 Navy Program. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946.

After graduating from Officer’s Training he was united in marriage to Wanda Gropper on January 18, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois.

After his honorable discharge in 1946, they made their home in Brookings where he graduated with a degree in Agriculture Engineering. They moved to Hot Springs where he worked for the Soil Conservation for two years. They then moved back to the Green Valley Community where they ranched and raised their family. In 1982 they moved into Interior where they continued to farm and ranch with Perry and Caroline until the time of his death.

Francis was a member of the Interior Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder for many years. He was a very civic-minded person, serving on many boards and organizations, including the American Legion Post #240 of Martin and the Interior Fairview Cemetery Board.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Wanda of Interior; two sons, Perry Guptill and his wife Caroline of Interior and Dale Guptill and his wife Valerie of Interior; two daughters, Sheryl Trohkimoinen and her husband Bob of Vale, South Dakota and Alice Jones and her husband Dave of Thermopolis, Wyoming; twelve grandchildren, Jason, Justin, Kasey and Katie Jones, Andy, Bart, Brett, Becky, and Debra Guptill, Toby and Tyler Trohkimoinen, and Jill St. John and her husband Jason; two great-grandchildren, Ezriella Rose St. John and Alexander Blair St. John; two sisters, Carol Tystad and her husband Bob of Gordon, Nebraska, and Jean Cutler and her husband Lee of Piedmont, South Dakota; and three sisters-in-law, Virginia Guptill of Rapid City, Lorraine Guptill of Modesto, California, and Dolores Sharp of Longvalley; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Earl and Bill Guptill, and his stepfather, Jim Case.

Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, 2002 at the Interior School Gym, with Pastor Hoshea Morley and Pastor Jason St. John officiating.

Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, and one hour preceding the services at the school on Wednesday.

Interment was at the Interior Fairview Cemetery in Interior.

The family request memorials be directed to the Interior Presbyterian Church and the Interior Fairview Cemetery.

MINISTERS
Pastor Hoshea Morley
Pastor Jason St. John

MUSIC
Marilyn Millage – Pianist
Roger Porch and Marlis Doud– Vocal Duet

USHERS
Pat Guptill - Ron Gartner

PALLBEARERS
Francis' Grandsons
Jason Jones - Justin Jones
Kasey Jones - Andy Guptill
Bart Guptill - Brett Guptill
Toby Trohkimoinen - Tyler Trohkimoinen

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Francis' Granddaughters
Jill St. John - Katie Jones
Becky Guptill - Debra Guptill

INTERMENT
Interior Fairview Cemetery
Interior, South Dakota