Francis Coats

Francis Dale Coats, age 96, of Huron, formerly of Doland, died on Friday, September 04, 2020, in the Avantara Care Center of Huron.

Funeral Services will be held at 2PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, in the Doland Methodist Church of Doland with Reverend Harold Loewen officiating. Visitation will be one hour preceding funeral services. Masks or face coverings are REQUIRED. Strict CDC guidelines and social distancing measures will be followed.

Francis Coats was born in Doland on November 8, 1923, to Ernest and Veronica (Paris) Coats. Francis was the youngest of 7 boys and a girl. Francis attended Capitola Township School in Doland, SD. He was one of only three students in his class. While in school, Francis met his bride-to-be (the only girl in his class), Gleo Roberts. They were married in the Redfield Courthouse on February 22, 1945. To pay for the wedding, Francis took his car to Huron on a trailer to sell it. It also paid for their honeymoon! Together, Francis and Gleo spent the first years of marriage living near Miller, SD, on the family farm. In the fall of 1948, they purchased a farm southwest of Doland.

Throughout his life, Francis was a bus driver for 12 years, retiring in 1962. He also worked at the Hardware Store in Doland, for DeKalb Seed Company – winning many awards during his tenure, at Hiles Construction as a road grader, and for 10 years as the Rural Route Carrier. Francis was also a member of the Doland Township Board for many years as well as a Doland School Board member.

In his free time, Francis loved to mow the lawn, hunt pheasants and fish, play cards, visit with family and friends, and watch professional sports, especially the Twins and Vikings.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Gleo; son, Jim Coats; son-in-law, Richard Martian; and siblings, Les, Bill, Merle, Howard, Sid, Shorty, and Norma.

Survivors include his daughter, Cheri Martian; daughter-in-law, Jane Coats; grandkids, James (Lisa) Coats, Shelley (Chris Rice) Coats, John (Susan) Coats, Erin (Brian Ellison) Coats, Jennifer Coats, Josh (Bailey) Coats, Dale (Lin) Martian, Carla (Tatum) Sandquist, Kathy (John) Roggow, Peggy (Craig) Valnes; 18 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Services are complete with the Furness Funeral Home in Clark where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com