Edwin Carl Fransen

1920 - 2013  (92 years)

• Name	Edwin Carl Fransen  [1]
  Born	19 Nov 1920	Dooley, Sheridan, Montana, United States   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Died	13 Mar 2013	Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, United States   [1]
  Obituary	6 Oct 2013	Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, United States   [1]
  Billings Gazette
  October 06, 2013 12:00 am Edwin Carl Fransen Born Nov. 19, 1920; passed away May 13, 2013 Dorothy Louise (Hass) Fransen Born Dec. 27, 1925; passed away Oct. 1, 2013 Edwin and Dorothy, nearly inseparable for the almost 69 years they were married, passed away only months apart in Billings, Mont. '97 Edwin, at the age of 92 at Billings Health and Rehabilitation Center following complications from pneumonia; Dorothy, at the age of 87, due to congestive heart failure and aspiration. They grew up, married, raised their children, and spent the majority of their lives together in the rural Westby area in northeastern Montana, until failing health brought them to Billings to be closer to their family. They are now forever united with God and family and friends who preceded them in death. A celebration of their lives service will take place on July 25, 2014, at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Westby. Edwin '97 Edwin's father, Oscar, emigrated from Sweden with his brothers, Sanford Fransen and Swen Soderquist, and traveled to northeastern Montana to establish their own homesteads. Edwin's mother, Anne Jensen, came from Minnesota to file for her homestead north of Westby, which she later sold, then moved to Plentywood and worked in a hotel and cafe, where she would meet Oscar. After they were married, they lived on Oscar's farm and had four children: Esther, Edith, Edwin and John. Edwin attended the country Coolidge School, along with his siblings, finishing eight grades in seven years! He did not continue his education, but rather stayed home to help on the family farm. At the age of 12, he was able to perform all farming responsibilities, from raising cattle to planting and harvesting wheat. Because his father suffered serious injuries from a farm accident, Edwin took over running the farm at the age of 15. He believed, as the eldest son, it was his role to run the farm so his siblings could finish school. He continued farming the home place, a total of almost 80 years, until he retired and moved to Plentywood, with his wife, Dorothy. The farm, though rented out, has remained in the Fransen family for over 103 years! Edwin met Dorothy at a young age and married her shortly after her graduation from Westby High School in 1944. They lived on his family's farm with his parents, until Edwin had a house moved from Comertown to just east of his parents' homestead. They had three children: Dennis, James and Debbie, all of whom also attended Coolidge School and Westby High School. Edwin and Dorothy later bought and farmed his uncle Sanford's homestead nearby. Dorothy '97 Dorothy's father, Edward Hass, moved from Wisconsin to Texas to homestead, but due to dry conditions, had to sell out. He was able to successfully homestead eight miles north of Westby, on the Canada/Montana/North Dakota border. Her mother, Ruby Tomke, traveled from Michigan to Tribune, Saskatchewan, Canada, to help her sister who had a baby. It was there that she met Edward, who was visiting a cousin. They married and she moved to his farm, where they raised their three daughters: Florence, Muriel and Dorothy, who was born in the only hospital Westby ever had, which later became the home of Bill and Irene Stageberg. Apparently, her dad was somewhat disappointed that he had no sons. However, since Dorothy preferred to be outside and loved to work with him on the farm, milking cows and operating the wheat binder, he often stated that she was the best son he could ever have! Dorothy loved animals, particularly horses, and since she was FEARLESS, loved to ride fast across the prairie. She got caught by her father attempting to cross a deep lake bareback on her horse '97 and she couldn't even swim. She also would back her horse against an electric fence, so it would take off like a flash. Needless to say, Dorothy gave her parents great concern. She and her sisters attended the Pleasant Valley country school, then high school in Westby. Upon graduation, she married Edwin and moved to his parents' farm, where they raised their family and she also worked on the farm. Both Edwin and Dorothy were active members of St. John's Lutheran Church and participated in all community activities. Dorothy, especially, was very outgoing, made many friends and helped wherever she was needed. Edwin was much quieter and let her speak for him much of the time. They both were devoted to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and regretted that they lived so far from them. They are survived by their son, Dennis (Cheryl) of Billings and their child, Shawn; Chad (Lynette) and their children, Halle, Lucas and Zachary; and Justin (Fran) and their daughters, Alyssa and Kaylee; son, James (Jan) of Bellingham, Wash., and their children, James (Erica), Katie, and her son, Sequoia; and daughter, Debbie (Chuck, deceased) Goodheart of Billings, and her daughter, Stephanie (Adam) and their sons, Ethan and Preston. They are also survived by Edwin's sister, Edith (Kalmer, deceased) Haarstad of Minot, N.D.; and Dorothy's sister, Muriel (Bill, deceased) Otto of Kalispell, Mont.; numerous nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, and many friends. They were preceded in death by their parents; Edwin's sister, Esther (Bjorn, deceased) Bjornsen, and his brother, John; and Dorothy's sister, Florence (Adolph, deceased) Anderson. Any memorials may be sent to St. John's Lutheran Church, PO Box 199, Westby, MT 59275, or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfgbillings.com through "Our Families."
  Cremated	Westby, Sheridan, Montana, United States   [1]
  Person ID	I6701	Dale's Tree
  Last Modified	5 Dec 2013

  
  

  Father	Oscar Carl Fransen,   b. 25 Aug 1881, , , , Sweden ,   d. 22 Jan 1966, Harlem, Blaine, Montana, United States  (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Anne Jenson,   b. 11 Feb 1880, Kenyon, Goodhue, Minnesota, United States ,   d. 3 Feb 1965, Noonan, Divide, North Dakota, United States  (Age 84 years)
  Married	9 Aug 1916	Westby Lutheran Parsonage, Westby, Sheridan, Montana, United States   [2]
  Family ID	F858	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Dorothy Louise Haas,   b. 27 Dec 1925, Westby, Sheridan, Montana, United States ,   d. 1 Oct 2013, Westby, Sheridan, Montana, United States  (Age 87 years)
  Married	Abt Jun 1944  [1]
  Last Modified	5 Dec 2013
  Family ID	F2376	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map	Click to hide
  		Born - 19 Nov 1920 - Dooley, Sheridan, Montana, United States Died - 13 Mar 2013 - Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, United States Obituary - Billings Gazette - 6 Oct 2013 - Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, United States  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S623] Newspapers - MT, Billings - Billings Gazette, Montana. Billings., (6 Oct 2013), "Edwin and Dorothy Fransen [Obit]," 6 Oct 2013, online archives (accessed 15 Nov 2013). (Reliability: 2), 5 Dec 2013. [S426] Genealogy Report: JENSON - Genealogy Report of Peder Jenson and Caroline Branes by Doroth Steinberg, Jay M. and Dorothy E. Steinberg, JENSON - Peder Jenson and Caroline Branes Genealogy - Steinbergs.pdf., p. 55 (Reliability: 2), 1 Aug 2010.