Artifact of the Month

Nearly 100 years ago, Senator Richard Franklin Pettigrew died of a stroke on October 5th, 1926. Between information from an interview conducted with the Pettigrews’ maid, Madge Ficken, and newspaper articles written after his death, we know a good deal about his funeral service. Miller Funeral Home, still operating in Sioux Falls today, prepared the body and home for the service, which was attended by notable Sioux Falls community members like C.O. Bailey, A.H. Stites, W.H. Lyon, and then-mayor Thomas McKinnon. Many of these attendees eulogized the senator during his funeral; their remarks can be found in an Argus Leader article from October 8th, 1926, the day Pettigrew was laid to rest. Pettigrew was interred in the mausoleum he had built at Woodlawn Cemetery. In observation of the 100th anniversary of Pettigrew’s death and the subsequent gift of the Pettigrew Home and Museum to the city of Sioux Falls, the Pettigrew Home will be staged for the funeral mid-September through early November. Come visit and honor the life and legacy of one of Sioux Falls’ founding citizens.