Frank passed away at the family home in Helena, MT on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the age of 96. He was born in Missoula on May 2, 1918 to Marion and Rosina Roderick. The family moved to the Orchard Homes Community in 1921. He attended Hawthorne Grade School and later Missoula County High School graduating in 1937. He worked as a carpenter’s apprentice eventually reaching full journeyman status. He decided that pounding nails in cold weather wasn’t to his liking so he went into drafting and engineering. He worked for the Montana Highway Department, The Corps of Engineers in Panama and Boeing Aircraft, and then went into the US Army. After WWII, seeing service in the European theater with the 70th Infantry Division, he returned to Missoula and in 1947 went to work for the Flathead Irrigation and Power Project at St. Ignatius, working for the engineering section, retiring in 1974. He continued to work for the Farmers for three years, then moved to Missoula where he lived until 2004 when he and his wife moved to Helena. Frank and Mary Jane Ward of Missoula were married in Denver while he was in the armed services. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, three daughters (Mavis Durado of Kalispell, Bonnie Crawford and husband Dennis of Helena, Moraine Byrne and husband Tim of Arvada, Colorado.) Other survivors include six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Frank loved his family and was proud of their accomplishments. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Easter Star, having been Master and Patron of each. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, friends, meeting people and the great outdoors. Cremation has taken place and, at Frank’s request, no service is planned. For those who knew Frank, you knew he had a sense of humor. Frank wrote this obituary and left it for his family but at the end of the piece he wrote “Actually, you could just say: He came. He saw. He went.” That was the humor of a well-loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He will be missed.
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Dayna Olson Shepherd says
Mary and family~ I just received your note in the mail today Mary and am so sad to hear of Frank’s passing. You and he were like 2nd grandparents to me and I have such found memories of renting your little house on Grove Street and being your neighbor. My great dane would always wander over there and she got a lot of treats from you and Frank. I would sit out on the lawn to study while in college and he would come visit me. I remember when I turned 30, he turned 70 and he came over to tell me that we “equalled 100”. (I wish we could still equal 100). He was full of laughs and stories and he meant a great deal to me. I’m glad he went as he wished. Love to you all. Dayna Olson Shepherd