Funeral services for Florence Hopfinger-Touchet, age 91, of Lemmon, SD will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon. Pastor Ed Zimmerman will officiate with burial in the Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.


Visitation will be on Friday, October 28, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. An Order of the Eastern Star Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. followed by a family service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening all at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Florence Louise Deuschle was born on August 19, 1920 to Lorence C. and Gladys Vera (Mitchell) Deuschle in the Northeast corner of the old sod house on a farm three miles south of Bison, SD. Florence started school in a one-room school house three miles west of the farm. During the 1930's, the family moved into the town of Bison. Florence finished her school days graduating with 17 members of the Class of 1939; they were the last class to graduate from the old Bison School.


Florence married her high school sweetheart, Mark Hopfinger Jr., on November 18, 1939, in Bison. They lived on the Hopfinger ranch until 1943 when they moved to Lemmon. Florence worked for North Western Cleaners for 22 years. Mark passed away on May 12, 1963, after a short illness.


Florence was united in marriage to Alfred Leslie "Les" Touchet in Lemmon on July 18, 1972. Following their marriage, they moved to San Diego, CA. While in San Diego, she worked for Two Guys Department store and later worked for Sears. Les retired in 1976 and in 1979 they returned to Lemmon. Florence then worked for Kohn's, Lad and Lassie, and Just Kiddin. Les passed away on September 15, 1985.


Florence belonged to and held offices in the American Legion Auxiliary, V.F.W. Auxiliary, Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church and Circle, and the Order of the Eastern Star. She joined the Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church on March 31, 1957. The church celebrated 100 years of ministry on October 14, 2007. Florence was recognized on February 8, 2011 for fifty years of faithful member in the South Dakota Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star. She was currently a member of the Fairview Chapter #166 at Bison, SD.


Due to failing health, Florence entered the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon on November 10, 2007. Florence passed away from this life there on Friday evening, October 21, 2011.


She is survived by her three sons, Dennis (Carolyn) Hopfinger, Brookings, SD, Lanny (Irene) Hopfinger and Brian (Darlene) Hopfinger, both of Lemmon, SD; six grandchildren, Marcus (Deborah) Hopfinger, Angela (Garry) Lane, Leah (Kurt) Petik, Felicia (Travis) Watson, Keri (Levi) Lewton, and Brent Hopfinger; 11 great-grandchildren, Amanda and Zachary Fischer, Grant, Kiya, and Irelyn Petik, Neka, Madison and Noah Watson, Isaac Pudas and Adele and Elyse Hopfinger; numerous step great-grandchildren; two step-sons, Earl (Sharreen) Touchet and Donald (Laurie) Touchet; three sisters, Laura Phillips, Smyrna, GA, Reta Baker, Hiko, NV and Evonne (Mike) Sullivan, Toledo, WA; one sister-in-law, Lillian Deuschle, Luverne, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Mark Hopfinger and Les Touchet; twin sister, Frances Short; two brothers, Harold Deuschle and Leland "Pete" Deuschle; two brothers-in-law, Marvin Phillips and Floyd Short Jr.; one sister-in-law, Bernice Deuschle; and grandson-in-law, Daryl Baesler.


A memorial has been established to the Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon.