Frank Joseph Boyd (Francis)

Frank (Francis) Joseph Boyd December 29, 1921- January 23, 2014

Frank was born in Clontarf, Minnesota, on December 29, 1921, to Henry Boyd and Rose Sticka. While still quite young, his family moved from Minnesota to the Highline of Montana. Frank was raised in Havre.

It was in kindergarten in Havre that Frank met the love of his life, Dorothy Lamey. From that moment, she helped define the man he was to become. After serving 4 years in the Army Aircorp in the South Pacific, Frank returned home and married Dorothy on April 28, 1947. It was the beginning of a lifelong love story that spanned 65 years of marriage, two children, seven grandchildren and 8 beautiful great-grandchildren. They started their life together in Kansas City where Frank went to school to become a gemologist, moving to Billings to start his career and eventually settling in Bozeman, MT, where they opened Boyd's Jewelry. They worked daily side by side creating a sense of community, raising their two daughters and making friendships that would last a lifetime. Through it all they were each others partner, companion, lover, and most importantly, best friend. In 1982, they left Bozeman for their dream home on Flathead Lake. On January 27, 2013, Frank lost his beloved Dorothy, but true to fashion, he will be laid to rest next to her exactly one year later.

Frank was a force of nature. He loved children, animals and stray people in equal measure. He was a tender, strong and loving man, who lived life with the utmost integrity. A man born into hardship, but determined not to let that define him. A man who used his will, his determination to see the positive, his athletic prowess, his humor and intellect to take him places that little boy growing up on the Highline could never imagine. A man who in his last years taught all who knew him the meaning and importance of living in grace and humility. He was above all our safe haven. His wicked sense of humor, beautiful smile and the light from his incredible blue eyes will be missed forever.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife Dorothy, father Henry, mother Rose and brother Ralph.

Survivors: Daughters Pam Boyd and Barb Neilan, grandchildren Inga Nelson (and partner Julia Stewart), Birgitta Pirrone (and husband Riccardo), Erik Peterson (and wife Paula), Neva Peterson, Katie Neilan, Nickolas Neilan (and wife Becky), and Laura Neilan Wardle (and partner Amber), and 8 loving great grandchildren.

Services:

Date: Monday, January 27, 2014

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Place: St. Francis Cathedral - Missoula, MT

Read Frank (Francis) Boyd's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.