Frances Gasco

Frances Kathleen Gasco, Fran as so many called her, fell asleep in death at home on Saturday, September 10th after a long battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be 2 PM, Sunday, September 18, 2022, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 1757 S. Lawson St., Aberdeen, SD.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Fran was born May 25, 1941, in Los Angeles, CA to Robert V. and Florence K. (Queck) Smith. She was the youngest of their 4 children. March 5, 1958, Fran married John E. Gasco. They were childhood sweethearts, who met at a large convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They were happily married for over 64 years. They never let a day go by without saying “I love you” or kissing each other good night. A truly inspirational love.

In 1974 their family packed up and moved from LA to Ipswich, SD. There they ran a small family business, and devoted a large amount of their time to Volunteer work, offering free home Bible studies to any who would like one.

Fran also worked many years at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Ipswich as a cook. After moving to Aberdeen in 1984 she worked as the Chinese cook for the Aspen Room at the Lumber Company Restaurant.

In 1985 Fran retired and began working part-time as a massage therapist. She was then able to expand her work full-time doing what she loved as a volunteer teaching the Bible. She continued this work for 37 years. She loved helping people learn about our Grand Creator, Jehovah God, and his self-sacrificing son, Jesus Christ, spreading Hope in a world that can be dark for many.

As a wife she was loving, caring, hardworking, and loyal, as a mother, she was extraordinary, self-sacrificing, and a true friend to her children. She was a friend and mentor to so many in her life, and was truly loved by all for her kindness, caring, and hospitality. Fran was an avid gardener, who loved the Earth and the beauty on it. She was a woman of Faith having confidence in the hope of a resurrection to a paradise on earth, according to the promise of Psalm 37:29.

Grateful for having shared Fran’s life are her husband John, their daughter Terrie and her husband, William Samsel; her son John A Gasco and his wife Rachel and their daughter Shawnee; Her brother Robert and his wife Donna Smith; and her sister Carol Kueneman also nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents Robert V and Florence K Smith, her oldest sister Shirley Taylor and her firstborn infant son Timothy who died at birth.

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