Franceita Decorah, age 90, died Wednesday January 27, 2021 at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse.
Franceita was born January 24, 1931 in Winnebago, Nebraska to Peter and Grace (Decorah) Whitegull.
Franceita was a selfless, witty and compassionate individual who was very proud of her heritage. She graduated from high school and from a young age was a hard worker; working along-side other seasonal migrant workers all over the state she would pick green beans and onions traveling even to Door Co. to pick cherries. She loved to travel. She also worked as a poll-watcher and judge at the local voting poll places.
Franceita was a homemaker first and foremost who loved her ever-growing family, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She and her husband Gordon were also parents to dozens of foster children as well. She had an unwavering love and faith in her Maker. She taught both Sunday and Bible school. She regularly volunteered to work Native American Week at the Mission where people lined up to get some of her Fried Bread. Her favorite pastime was going to the Casino and playing Bingo. She liked to read and work word searches and enjoyed watching her western movies. She was an excellent craftsman who’s beadwork was envied by all. And, Franceita loved everything having to do with Hummingbirds. She was a joy to be around, though she scared some people some of the time, she will truly be missed.
Surviving Franceita are her sons Alan (Gail) Whitegull, Tim (Amy Spangler) Decorah; her daughters Ida Ermenc and Lori (Matthew) Staff; her grandchildren Tammy and Greg Whitegull, Damien Whitegull Sr., Alexander and Alexis Whitegull, Garritt Decorah, Sierra and Winter Knight, Donavan Scheurich Jr., Heaven Scheurich-Decorah, MacKenzie and Eden Decorah, Aric Koster and Jessica Bush; 20 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gordon; her sons Leland Peter Whitegull and Gordon Lucian Decorah Jr.; her daughters Tracey Lynn Knight and Pamela Kay Decorah-Scheurich; and her siblings Millard Whitegull, Rachel Garcia, Irene Rave and Agnes Thundercloud.
Funeral Services for Franceita will be Saturday January 30, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Buswell Funeral Home in Black River Falls. Mann John will officiate the ceremonies. Due to Covid-19 limitations and precautions a visitation following safe guidelines will be from 10:00 to 10:45AM followed by a private family service at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Decorah Cemetery. There will be a Celebration of Franceita’s Life later this summer at a place, date and time yet to be determined.
The Buswell Funeral Home, 106 S. Second St., in Black River Falls is serving the family, (715) 284-2231.
No responses yet