FRANCES FRASER obituary

JOPLIN - Frances Louise “Francy” Fraser, 70, of Joplin died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, at Benefis East Medical Center in Great Falls.

Vigil prayers will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Church in Inverness. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will follow at Inverness Cemetery.

Francy was born May 17, 1935, in Havre to George and Margaret (Schwan) Richter. Francy grew up in the Inverness community and received her early education there. She finished her schooling in Joplin, graduating from Joplin High School in 1953.

Francy married Rudy Bruns in 1955. They worked on various Montana and Idaho ranches and began raising a family of three sons before their marriage ended in divorce. Francy returned to the Hi-Line community and began working for Morris Ewald at his store in Rudyard.

She married Rodney Fraser on May 20, 1961. They made their home on the Fraser farm 20 miles south of Inverness, where Francy worked diligently as a farm wife and homemaker. In addition to raising her three sons, the Frasers had two daughters to complete their family of five.

After 30 years of marriage, the Fraser's were divorced in 1991. Francy moved to Joplin. She was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2000. She received the gamut of medical treatment, but continued to have additional problems in the ensuing years. A major emotional setback for Francy occurred in October of 2004 upon the death of her sister and best friend, Virginia Adams. Additional medical complications four months ago resulted in numerous hospitalizations and a rapid deterioration of her health.

Francy was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Inverness and remained a lifetime member. During her adult years on the Hi-Line, she was active in T.O.P.S. and dart and bowling leagues. In 1992, she made a memorable trip to Europe, where she toured London, Paris, Germany and Holland. She also enjoyed occasional junkets to Las Vegas and Jackpot, Nev. During the past five years, Francy became an active participant in local cancer walks and fundraisers.

She made ceramics, stuffed animals, quilts, afghans and other craft items. She enjoyed her flower and vegetable gardens. Her kitchen skills, including canning, baking and cooking, were excellent, and she loved to entertain. Francy made many wedding cakes, especially for family weddings, and her cakes were always a hit. And she made the best fried chicken in the Richter family.

During her quiet time at home, Francy enjoyed word search games and her favorite television shows, “Jeopardy,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.” She collected copper figurines, especially butterflies.

Francy enjoyed life and spending time with her family and friends. Her personality fit all genders and all ages, so she made friends easily.

Francy was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Lena, Mary, Agnes and Virginia; brothers, George, Joseph, Jake, Edwin, Raymond and John; and two infant siblings.

Survivors include her children, Randy Fraser of Alexandria, Va., Craig Fraser of Chester, Rex Fraser of Sacramento, Calif., Rhonda Olson of Billings and Tracy Pfaff of Chester; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers, Chris Richter of Ferndale and Frank Richter of Joplin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.