Florence Batien

Florence Albertha McMillan Batien, age 91, Huron, formerly of Willow Lake, the widow of Floyd Batien, died June 10th 2013, at the Huron Regional Hospital. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2013 from 5-7 PM at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Willow Lake, SD and will continue after 9AM Friday morning in the Church. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 10:30 AM in the Congregational United Church of Christ at Willow Lake with Pastor Rosanne Anderson officiating. The pianist will be Cindy Warkenthien. Honorary casketbearers will be Melanie, Richard, Christy and Brianna Batien, David & Tim Gaul and Kristin Nibblink. The active casketbearers will be Bryan, Brennan, Troy & Travis Batien, Kevin Clark and Doug LaMont. Burial will follow in the Pitrodie Cemetery near Carpenter. She was born on December 25th, 1921 to Otto and Christina (Iverson) McMillan at her Grandparents Farm in Southeast Spink County. She was the oldest of eight children. Florence grew up in Clark County, attending 8 years of school at Bunker Hill & Baker. She worked for neighbors one of which was Rose Batien. She fell in love with Rose's son Floyd. They were married January 3rd, 1941. After they were married they lived east of Carpenter on the Batien Farm. They farmed until 1962 when they moved to Willow Lake, South Dakota. She helped Floyd with his Janitor duties at the Willow Lake School. Later she worked as head cook for the Willow Lake School System for several years retiring in 1985. Floyd passed away in 1991. On August 2nd, 2006 she moved to Sunchase Apartments in Watertown, South Dakota and then on May 4th, 2013 she moved to the SunQuest Village apartments in Huron, South Dakota. She was a member of the Congregational Church at Willow Lake, South Dakota, American Legion Auxiliary Life Time Member and Senior Citizens of Willow Lake. She enjoyed playing cards, crocheting & tatting. Preceding her in death were her, parents, husband Floyd, her son Jerry Batien, Brothers Charles (Bud) and Lyle McMillan. Survivors are three sons, Roger (Susan) Batien, Roland (Delores) Batien, & Lloyd (Sheryl) Batien. Nine grandchildren, three step grandchildren and four Great Grandchildren and seven step Great Grandchildren. Three brothers, Eugene (Lois)McMillan, Irwin McMillan, Keith (Shirley) McMillan and two sisters Ruby Johannson & Vivian(Don)Dische. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Genevive McMillan and several nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com