Frances Lee Knodel, 86, of Box Elder, passed away on November 30, 2022 in Rapid City.

Fran was born Los Angeles to Edra Josephine Shell Putman & James Francis Putman on July 20, 1936. She married Edwin LeRoy Knodel on April 29, 1965.

Fran was active until the day she passed. After Ed retired they relocated to New Underwood for the country lifestyle. She was a rancher and homemaker east of New Underwood before they downsized and moved to their home in Box Elder. In her younger years she modeled, loved cats and was active in the horse world in southern California.

She traveled to California most every year to enjoy fun and family time with her daughter, step daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren who live there. She also enjoyed spending time with her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren here in the Rapid City area.

On many sunny days you could find her outside enjoying and caring for her yard and flower gardens.

She was an avid reader, loved her trips to Laughlin and Deadwood. She had many talents which included sewing, quilting, painting, jigsaw puzzles.

She was lighthearted, fun and a real spitfire.

Fran was an only child and is survived by her 2 daughters, Kathy Brown and Kim Larsen, 6 grandchildren, Ryan and Miles Hall, and Tanna (Lindgren), Monica, Christopher & Creighton Geigle, 9 great grandchildren, Aisling, Arabella, Alexa Hall and Noah, Alex, Paige, and Gabe Lindgren, and Emma and Ronin Geigle, also, Ed’s two daughters, Linda Doyle and Sandra Knodel, 2 grandchildren, Cherie Doyle and Oliver Knodel-Sherman and great grandson Devin Knodel-Sherman.

Fran is preceded in death by her husband, Edwin L Knodel.

Fran’s wishes were to be cremated with no funeral services, however the family will have a private celebration of life and the burial of her ashes will be resting in the New Underwood Cemetery.

The family of Fran Knodel would like to offer a special thanks to her many neighbors who always looked after her, did snow removal, mowed and were her cherished friends. She was always so appreciative of you all.

A special thanks to her close companion and friend of the last four years, Willard Harper.

We also wish to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses of Monument Hospital who cared for her so lovingly in her final hours and to Behrens Wilson for their help and kindness during this sad time.