Funeral services for Fanchon Lien-Mock, age 80, longtime area teacher, will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2009 at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon. Pastor Webster P. Brower will officiate with burial in the Selma Union Cemetery, north of Thunderhawk, SD.


A family service will be held on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Serving as casketbears are Harold Gaugler, Rick Gaugler, Steve Jackson, John Lopez, Wayne Weishaar, and Mitch Daley. All of Fanchon's friends, relatives and former students are considered Honorary Bearers.


Special music will be provided by Marcia Klitzke, organist and Darrel Klitzke, soloist.


Fanchon Donalene Atkinson, affectionately known as "Toot", was born in a sod house in Sioux County, ND on July 9, 1928 to Harry and Mabel (Glynn) Atkinson. She weighed 4 lbs. and would fit into a shoe box. Fanchon grew up along the Cedar River where she would often bathe and swim. Times were tough during the Dirty Thirties. She and her brother walked a mile and a half to the country school. She graduated from Lemmon High School in 1948. Her older brother Walter insisted that she get an education. He drove her to Dickinson where she enrolled at the Dickinson Teacher's College and later graduated with a teaching degree.


She returned to the area she grew up and started teaching. Fanchon continued her education by attending summer school. She was then re-acquainted with Merle Baldwin Lien, who was working on her mother's farm and also a school teacher. They were united in marriage on July 29, 1953 at the Spencer Memorial Church in Lemmon. A son Randy and a daughter Glynis was born to this union. Fanchon taught at the Selma District, Cedar Butte, Hanna, Beisigl, Eagle, Athboy, Progress, and Lemmon schools. She also helped others earn their GED.


Her husband Merle passed away on February 3, 1998 and she continued to live on the farm. She was united in marriage to Dick Mock on September 9, 2002 at Lemmon. They enjoyed their retirement years together living in Lemmon and traveling to California every year, sometimes spending winter months there. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the mid 1990's. She was cared for by family until she entered the Five Counties Nursing Home in February of 2009.


Fanchon was a dedicated teacher for over 40 years. She loved teaching and took great pride in being a teacher. She loved children. She was also dedicated to her family and worked hard all her life. The things she tried to teach her family and students was that each one of them was special, and try hard to learn all that you can, as there is so much to know.


She enjoyed taking hikes, walking to get the mail every day, listening to birds sing, watching nature and spending time with her family and grandchildren. She loved writing family history for future generations to enjoy. Fanchon traveled from coast to coast, and especially enjoyed her trips in the semi-truck with her brother Walter. Another fond memory of Fanchon's was when she travelled to Missouri with Francis. She made numerous trips to Bismarck taking Charles to his dialysis appointments. She had a kind and loving heart, often putting others before herself. She taught her children to have compassion to others and animals, to have appreciation for nature, and to stop and smell the roses only when the work is done.


She was a member of the Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Delta Kappa Gamma, Selma Ladies Aide, the Order of the Eastern Star and the North and South Dakota Retired Teachers Association.


Fanchon passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2009 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.


Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Dick, Lemmon, SD; one son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Rachelle Lien, Lincoln, ND; one daughter and son-in-law, Glynis and Mike Wallum, Lemmon, SD; one step-daughter, Claudia (Harlan) Enerson, Bucyrus, ND; four grandchildren, Jason and Jasmine Wallum, Jeremiah Lien, and Desirae (Sheldon) Zaste; one great-granddaughter, Keira Krebs; one brother and sister-in-law, Leonard and Joyce Atkinson, Glendive, MT; two sisters-in-law, Francis Atkinson, Lemmon, SD, Arliss (Henry) Craig, Fairfield, MT; nieces and nephews, Wayde (Nicole) Atkinson, Myron McPherson, Raymond McPherson, and Avis (Paul) Rowe, and numerous nieces and nephews on Merle's side of the family. Also surviving are a brother-in-law, Roy Mock El Central, CA; a sister-in-law, Leola Gehring in California.


Fanchon was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father Slim McPherson; husband Merle Lien on February 3, 1998; two great grandchildren in infancy; two brothers, Walter Atkinson on December 31, 1993 and Charles McPherson on November 20, 2008; one mother-in-law Violet Lien, three sisters-in-law Lois Mock, Shirley Lien, and Norma Hadley, and one brother-in-law Nolan Lien.


Visitation will be on Thursday, March 12, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday.


A memorial has been established.