Gloria C. French

Gloria C. French, age 87, of Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.
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 vigil service at 7:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 1, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, with Father Grant Gerlach as celebrant.
Interment will be held at a later date at the St. John's Cemetery in Harrold, South Dakota.
Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.