Second employee at Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls dies from COVID-19

April 22, 2020

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)–The union representing workers at the Smithfield pork processing plant in Sioux Falls says a second employee at the plant has died from COVID-19. 

The local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers reports that Craig Allen Franken died on Sunday.  He was 61 years old.

An obituary posted online says he started working at the plant in 1979 after he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. He worked there for over forty years.

Another employee died last week.

Health officials reported 71 new cases of the coronavirus in South Dakota Tuesday, bringing the statewide tally to 1,755.