Frances Schauss

Frances Mae Mlady was born September 2, 1928, in Academy, South Dakota, to William and Erma (Girton) Mlady. She was the oldest of 6 children. She grew up on the family farm in Brule County, SD, where her grandparents were early homesteaders and the family continued to farm for over a century. She was proud of the South Dakota Century Farm status awarded to their family farm. She had fond memories of living a rural farm life during the 1930-40s even though many difficulties of rural life had to be overcome. As with many rural families in order to attend high school, she worked and boarded in town during the school year graduating from Chamberlain High School, in 1946. She attended College in Springfield and Spearfish, South Dakota. After college she taught in one room schoolhouses in rural South Dakota. She took a teaching position in Newcastle, WY and then moved to Casper in the early 1950's, teaching kindergarten at Garfield and McKinley elementary schools. She walked everyday between schools for the morning and afternoon classes. She loved her students keeping many photos of them and their activities. Occasionally, a former student would recognize Miss Mlady and share their memories of her. After moving to Casper, she met her future husband Ralph L. Schauss marrying in 1954. They built the Ramada Inn, in 1964, owned the Riverside Mobile Home Court, and numerous other businesses over many years. They had 5 children together. She lovingly raised her children to adulthood and was involved in Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scouts, as well as, school activities. Her home was always open to many of her children's friends. She loved to entertain her grandchildren. They often went to Grandma's house to carve pumpkins, decorate the Christmas tree, color Easter eggs but, mostly just to play in the sandbox and swing in her hammock. For her 80 th birthday, her children held a surprise party in her honor starting a lovely tradition of a family reunion every year on her birthday. She dearly loved spending time with her siblings and their families. She had a passion for art that started in her early school years. As her children grew up she was able to pursue her creative desires for art attending many workshops and college classes. She was a longtime member of the Artist's Guild. As an accomplished artist she won numerous awards locally, statewide and nationally. Her favorite past time became spending days with her artist friends painting and sketching at local outdoor locations. Her home was filled with works of art of not only her art, but many friends and famous artists she studied with. Her creativity didn't stop at art. She always had an extraordinary flower garden and loved decorating her yard and home during the different holiday seasons. Her creative talents for decorating extended to the lobby and banquet rooms at the Ramada Inn during Christmas time. For many years she was a member of Republican Women and served as a state delegate. She continued to follow politics and remained a lifelong Republican. She was proud of her Mayflower origins and her Czech heritage. She was a Mayflower Society member. She traveled extensively in the United States and Internationally with her lady friends, filling her home with memento's from her travels. In 2016 she attended her 70 th high school reunion in Chamberlain, SD, while there she had a minor stroke. Over the next year she developed dementia symptoms and with declining health she was moved to Shepherd of the Valley Healthcare Community, where she passed away January 23, 2018. Her five surviving children are Gloria Huston (grandsons Roger, Jeff, and Chris) Vergas, MN, Becky Bulfer (grandchildren Daniel (Elizabeth), David, and Shelby Bulfer) of Casper, WY, Steven Schauss (Melody Foster) (grandson Zeb (Cindy) Schauss - great-grandsons Hunter and Mason) all of Casper, WY, grandson Elliot Davis (son of Bill Schauss, deceased) of Casper, WY, Deborra Schauss (grandsons Dalton and Riley Stewart) of Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Laurie Wilson (Dave McNally) (grandson Ashley Wilson) all of Casper, WY. She is survived by five siblings Margie Klein of Burke, SD, Bill (Dennise) Mlady of Academy, SD, Sauny Schreiber of Lakewood, CO, Dennis (Becky) Mlady of Portsmouth, NE, Norma (Jim) Kerr of Seabeck, WA, in-laws in the Schauss family, and has many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her son, William (Bill) Schauss, in 2010, her parents William A. and Erma M. (Girton) Mlady, son-in-law Richard Huston, brother-in-laws Shorty Schreiber and Norman Klein and nephew Bradley Klein The family is planning a future Celebration of Life that will be announced later. .