Francis S. Bigaouette, age 96, of Arlington, died at the Oak Terrace Living Center in Gaylord on Monday, June 18.  
Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Green Isle at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 23.
Visitation will be held at the Kolden Funeral Home in Arlington starting at 4 p.m. and concluding with a Parish Prayer Service at 8 p.m. Friday, June 22. Visitation will continue at the Kolden Funeral Home in Arlington starting with an 8 a.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary and concluding at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 23. Family and casket will then proceed to St. Brendan’s Catholich Church for the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Francis was born to Sylvester and Clara (Barlage) Bigaouette in Faxon Township, Sibley County, Oct. 2, 1921. He married Kathryn Bailey at St. John’s Catholic Church near Belle Plaine on May 5, 1943. He farmed his entire life in Sibley County.  Kathryn died on March 25, 1975.  He later married Florence Dahl at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Arlington on Aug. 26, 1994.  He loved spending time with his family and friends, listening to old time music and dancing. His lifelong passion was farming, horses, red tractors and his time on his farm.  He was a member of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus, Green Isle Lions Club, N.F.O, Prairie Down Charioteers, (raced chariots at the Minnesota Renaissances Festival for years), and St. Brendan’s Catholic Church for over 74 years.  
He is survived by his wife, Florence; children, Dennis Bigaouette of Mound, Betty Pederson of Sauk Center,  Mary Johnson of Jordan, Sharon (Gary) Lauwagie of Chaska, Francis (Wendy) Bigaouette of Arlington, and Theresa (Joe) Young of Arlington;  step-son; Bob (Debbie) Dahl of Arlington;  23 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter;  brother, Richard (Ardene) Bigaouette of Hamburg; sisters, Myrtle Buesgens of Norwood, Irene Castor of Belle Plaine, and Ethel (Andy) Hervin of Waite Park;  sister-in-law, Jo Dell (Merle) Battcher, of Arizona, and Beverlee Schultz of Apple Valley.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Kathryn; sons-in-law, Bob Johnson and Gene Pederson;  daughter-in-law, Patricia Bigaouette; granddaughter, Sarah Bigaouette;   brothers, Ray (Fran), Tom (Georgia) and Jerry (Donna) Bigaouette;  sister, Marie (Irving) Brazil;  brothers-in-law; Eddie Deutsch, Elroy Buesgens, Bud Castor, Dennis Bailey and Robert Fritz;  sisters-in-law, Isabel (Myron) Farrell, Irene (Earl) Madden, Rosie (Mark) Berger, Helen (Pat) Meyer, Betty (Francis) Hammers, Teresa Fritz, Shirley (Cyril) Aretz and Mary (Gene) Fahey.