HURON — “Play the game.” If the phrase was not Frank “Red” Ochsner’s mantra, it should have been. Frank “Red” Ochsner, age 91, of Huron, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at Avantara Huron.
A Celebration of Frank’s Life will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, at the Huron Country Club. All are welcome but no one is allowed to leave without a smile.
Life was a giant game to our dad. He had a serious side but even work was framed within the concept of keeping score. Whether a golf ball, pool ball, baseball, or any other kind of ball (or card game), dad played it and if he couldn’t be playing it, he was watching it. All competitions were done with a smile on his face, although all chit-chat could be done after play had finished. Don’t waste time/miss ‘em quick.
Red was a competitor until the very end, yet death remains undefeated after taking away one of the great ones. Frank Ochsner, the son of Harry and Lena (Delzer) Ochsner, was born on April 28,1933 in Artas, S.D. He attended school and graduated from Mobridge High School in 1954. He wasn’t a bragger, unless it was lighthearted one-upmanship, but if you asked him he’d let you know he started on the 1953 State B runner-up Mobridge Tiger basketball team. Frank received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern State University after his second try in higher education. A two-year stint in the U.S. Army between his first and second freshman years seemed to help his study skills immensely.
Frank married Kay Marie Clayton on May 24, 1957 in Aberdeen. Frank began his career teaching and coaching in Jefferson and Mobridge. His stops as high school principal in S.D. included Phillip, Todd County (Mission), Winner, and Huron. He retired in 1994.
Red coached every sport offered and never had a losing season until he unretired to coach girls’ basketball on an emergency basis. He refereed basketball until his wheels fell off. Frank was a member of the VFW and American Legion Post. He was a past-member of Sertoma and served as a board member of Our Home after his retirement. Frank enjoyed playing pool and was a member of the Heartland Pool Hall of Fame. Red was an organizer whether it be softball, golf, or sports pools. He organized thousands of sports pools whether it be golf, baseball, basketball or any other sport which anyone with $5 could join. Frank enjoyed playing cards every morning with the “Coffee Crew” at the Dakota Inn in Huron.
Frank “Oxner” loved spending many a day on the local golf course and played regularly at 90 years old. Frank was a long-standing member of the Huron Country Club and ran the Huron Golf League for many years.
Red’s greatest loves, however, were his wife Kay and his family including his dog, Mugsy and his long-time partner, GOLF. One wife, one dog he vowed. He stuck to his promise. He spent 10 years as Kay’s full-time caregiver with stints in the hospital being his only reprieve. When asked, he never found it difficult.
Grateful for having shared in Frank’s life are his two sons: Scott (Deb) Ochsner of West St Paul, Minn., and Steve Ochsner of Huron; his two granddaughters: Amanda (Dennis Ramirez) Ochsner and Amy Ochsner both of West St. Paul; two great-grandchildren: Catalina and Case Ramirez; sister, Betty Jay of Mobridge; and many nieces and nephews. Scott and Steve have a sense of pride knowing their mom passed away on one son’s birthday and their dad passed away on the other son’s birthday.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Lena; his wife, Kay in 2008; two brothers: Henry and Al Ochsner; and two sisters: Sally Scheafbauer and Troona Sauer.
