Frances M. (Fran) Mutchelknaus, age 80 of Wolsey, SD, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at her home in Wolsey, SD. Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Huron with burial Monday, February 2, at 11:30 a.m. (MST) in the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD. Visitation, with the family present, will be from 1-3 p.m. Friday at the Wolsey-Wessington High School Gymnasium, with a prayer service to begin at 1:00 p.m.; or one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Fran was born on January 30, 1934 at Parkston, SD to Mary and Peter Lichter. She graduated from Parkston High School in 1951. She earned a two-year teaching certificate from Southern State Teachers College in 1954 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Huron University in 1971. On June 5, 1956 Fran married Reinhold (Mutch) Mutchelknaus, Jr. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parkston, SD. Fran taught in Freeman and in Phillip where Mutch, a Highway Patrolman, was stationed before moving to Wolsey in 1960. This marked the beginning of a 35 year teaching career at the Wolsey School where she taught 6th grade and middle school English. She became affectionately known to students, teachers and the entire community as "Granny Franny". Fran made a difference in every life she touched. She loved all students and would say, "There are no bad kids, only kids that need more love." Fran retired in 1996, but continued to substitute teach at the Wolsey-Wessington School until 2012. Fran was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Holy Trinity Alter Society, American Legion Auxiliary, Onward Wolsey, and was a homebound minister for the church. Fran loved spending time with her friends and family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy in life came from feeding her family and friends and watching the Warbirds and Packers play. She is survived by her sons, Scott (Dawn) of Wolsey, Jay (Doris) of Huron; three grandchildren: Jesse (Sarah), Jena (Kory) and Jayden; four great-grandchildren: Kate, Audrey, Carson and Jayde; brother, Tom (Alice) of Mitchell; sister-in-law, Geneva Lichter of Yankton; brother-in-law, Byron (Robin) Mutchelknaus of Black Hawk; sister-in-law, Nancy (Bob) Schamber of Madison; and many nieces and nephews. Fran was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Reinhold (Mutch) in 2000; brother, Jim; and grandson, Bo. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Fran's name to the family.