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Funeral services will take place on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 2:00 PM (Central).

St. John's Cemetery
Harrold, South Dakota

St. John's Cemetery
Harrold, South Dakota
5-7 p.m. Friday, September 30
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota



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In memory of

Gloria C. French

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip at the age of 87

Gloria Charlene Lehrkamp French was born October 7th, 1934, in Sully County, South Dakota, the first of seven children born to Art and Bert (Thorn) Lehrkamp. The family bought a farm at Harrold in 1946. Gloria graduated from Harrold High School in 1952.

She married Richard French in 1952 and lived on his family farm at Harrold until moving to Huron in 1967. Four daughters blessed this union: Fay, Julie, Diane, and Lori.

Gloria enjoyed restoring old oak homes and furniture and was honored to be caretaker of the Pyle House Museum in Huron for several years. She was employed at St. John's Hospital, Haley's, and Holiday Foods before doing homecare for several years in Huron and Philip. She moved to Philip in 2001, where she has since resided.

Gloria is survived by her three daughters: Fay (Doug) Hauk of Philip, Julie (Jeff) Stroup of Sioux Falls, and Lori (Grant) Seaman of Warner; 12 grandchildren Brennan and Tyler Hauk, Rachelle (Casey) Elshere, Jessica (Jon) Alvey, Jenna (Sean) Bortnem, Crystal (Chad) Kopfmann, Jeremie (Melinda Salas) LeGrand, Charity and Chance Pionk, JayCee, Landon (Liz) and Tanner Seaman; 14 great-grandchildren Ashlynn, Lainey, Cade, Lacey, Lucas, Anna, Evan, Simon, Clyde, Isaac, Lillian Marie, Franklin, Ginny, and Lillian Ryan Marie; one brother Darrel Lehrkamp of Arriba, Colorado; three sisters Shirley Keller of Pierre, Bea Westall of Mesa, Arizona, and Rhonda Krell of Rifle, Colorado; and numerous, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; daughter Diane LeGrand; her parents; sister Marcia Ernster; and brother Leo Lehrkamp.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday, September 30, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, with a Christian Funeral Vigil at 7:00 p.m.

A Christian Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 1, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, with Father Grant Gerlach as celebrant.

Christian Funeral Committal will be held 2 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, October 21, at the St. John's Cemetery in Harrold, South Dakota with Fr. Ron Garry officiating.

Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 434 Philip, SD 57567.



VISITATION
Friday, September 30, 2022 - 5-7 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

CHRISTIAN FUNERAL VIGIL
Friday, September 30, 2022 - 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

CHRISTIAN FUNERAL MASS
Saturday, October 1, 2022 - 10:00 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Grant Gerlach
with Deacon Lloyd Frein assisting

READER
Jenna Bortnem

MUSIC
Marianne Frein - Pianist
Maureen Palecek - Cantor
“How Great Thou Art” #432
“Taste and See” #332
“Lead Me Lord” #739

USHERS
Ray Gibson - Rick Coyle

PALLBEARERS
Brennan Hauk - Tyler Hauk - Rachelle Elshere
Jessica Alvey - Jenna Bortnem - Crystal Kopfmann
Jeremie LeGrand - Charity Pionk - Chance Pionk
JayCee Seaman - Landon Seaman - Tanner Seaman

CHRISTIAN FUNERAL COMMITTAL
Friday, October 21, 2022 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
St. John’s Cemetery
Harrold, South Dakota
Fr. Ron Garry - Officiating

  • Dearest Aunt Gloria, what a beautiful sole. You always had the kindest things to say. Your love and faith in God is something we should all look to as a guide in our own lives. I love you and will miss you. We are all greatly blessed knowing you are watching over us from heaven ~ Tammy Taylor Yankton SD (10/1/2022)
  • Gloria was one of a kind, she will be missed by many. Our memories will be going to dances together, she loved to dance, as we also do. Hold on to all the memories, we know she is in a better place. ~ Les & Joann Pearson Philip, SD (9/28/2022)


  • Faye & Family, Sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. Our thoughts and Prayers. Gloria was special lady. She was so kind to my Mom. God Bless.
    ~ Ralph & Cathy Fiedler Sturgis, SD (9/27/2022)
  • Gloria was one of the nicest ladies you could ever want to meet. She went above and beyond keeping this little town of Philip weed free for years. She made beautiful crocheted pieces and kept her yard and home in tip top shape. She talked about her illness and that she was going to keep on keeping on as long as she was able and that she felt that her Faith and love of God would be all the medicine she needed. I applaud her outlook. I am so glad I got to be her friend and know she is now with her Lord. Condolences to all her family. ~ Shirley Dennis Philip (9/27/2022)
  • Gloria, so fun-loving & hard working, always a kind word and a big beautiful smile. A life well lived, now at peace. Thoughts & prayers going out to your wonderful family. ~ Jan Haley Eickhoff Huron, SD (9/27/2022)
  • Forgot to add Lori's name to our memories, she played football with us on the lawn. ~ Jan Price Huron (9/27/2022)
  • So very sorry to learn of Gloria's death. We were blessed to have her as out next door neighbor on Idaho and 7th SE. She was such a hard worker, always had joyful things to say, took us to the dairy to get milk in gallon jars and shared her baking with our family. We always marveled at the work of her hands and she wouldn't quit until she got the job finished. Gloria, Norma Will and I shared lots of fun times and she was so welcoming to live next to. I remember Diane riding her horse up the alley one summer evening and my daughter was in awe to see a real horse. We were blessed to see Fay, Diane, Julie and all of them grow and turn into lovely ladies. Rest in God's grace dear friend. ~ Janet and Don Price, Laura and Missy 4230 Illinois Sw Huron SD 57350 (9/27/2022)
  • Gloria, you are a wonderful soul. Rest in peace, old friend. ~ Pat Haley Owatonna, MN (9/26/2022)
  • Gloria was such a sweet and generous person and ever since I was a very young girl has made me feel like I held a special place in her heart. From riding roller coasters with me, to staying in touch with kind letters so many years later, I will remember her dearly. May God bless her family and friends who will miss her so much, and may she be eternally happy smiling and dancing in heaven! ~ Lori Yunker Fort Collins (9/26/2022)