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Francis R. Mitchell, 78

Francis R. Mitchell, 78, of Blair, died Oct. 22, 2009, at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair. Services were Oct. 30 at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home in Rapid City, S.D. Interment was at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, S.D., with military honors provided by the TREA honor guard.

Francis R. “Frank” Mitchell was born Sept. 5, 1931, in New Haven, Conn., to Francis and Helen Mitchell.

He served in the Korean War before attending Connecticut State Teachers College. After graduating, he moved to Kansas City, Mo., and began his career in education. He became enamored with the Black Hills while working as a seasonal park ranger at Mt. Rushmore and, in 1984, made the Black Hills his permanent home.

He enjoyed opera, raising collies, and spending time in various national parks. He was active in the Rapid City (S.D.) Kennel Club.

He lived in Custer, S.D., until 2006, when his failing health necessitated his living with his daughter in Nebraska.

He is survived by a son, Christopher Mitchell of Oregon; three daughters, Martha Mays of Fort Calhoun, Marilyn Tisdale of Houston, Texas, and Sara Mitchell of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; six grandchildren; sister, Sue Wall of East Haven; and a brother, John P. Mitchell of Anchorage, Alaska.

He was preceded in death by two wives, Patricia Mitchell and Kyung-Mi Mitchell; and a daughter, Lucy Mitchell.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~