Frances M. Hendren

Frances Mae Hendren, age 94 of Sioux Falls, SD died peacefully on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls.  A Graveside Service will be at 1:00 PM Friday, September 18, 2026 at Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls.

Fran was born to William C. and Mabel Zafft on Dec. 2, 1931 in a farm house near Canistota, South Dakota. They moved to town by 1942. She graduated from Washington High School and spent most of her life working as a bookkeeper.

She enjoyed bowling and cross stitching. She was an avid reader of mysteries and loved the challenge of crossword puzzles. Chocolate was her passion and Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice was her drink of choice unless it was 5 o’clock that meant it was wine time. She loved going out for lunch, it didn’t matter where as long as it ended with a piece of chocolate cake or a piece of pie (she liked coconut cream).

She was preceded in death by two sons: Joseph Schmidt (1953-2018) and Steven Schmit (1956-2016). Her parents William C. Zafft (1903-1993) and Mabel Engelkes (1910-1967), brothers William H. Zafft (1933-2008), Richard Zafft (1935-1955) and her sister Phyllis Van Den Hul (1937-2013). She outlived three husbands: Ronald Murphy (1929-1953) killed in the Korea’s war, Earl Schmidt (1936-2006), and Robert Hendren (1937-2009).

Left behind are her son Mark Schmidt of Arizona and her daughter Kay (John) Hamersma of Sioux Falls also five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, siblings LeRoy Zafft, Mary Lou Johnson, Helen Christopherson, Darlene (Dolly) Deming, Donald (Linda) Zafft and many nephews and nieces.

We want to thank Sanford Hospice and Ava’s House for caring for her during her last journey.