Frank W. Cole

Frank Wallace Cole passed away at the age of 79 on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at St. Patrick Hospital from leukemia and pneumonia.

He was born on June 14, 1934, in Pablo to Ralph and Violet McPheeters Cole. He attended grade school in Pablo, and high school in Ronan and Polson. He participated in basketball, football and track.

He entered the Navy in June 1952, and married his high school sweetheart, Helen Palmer, on Sept. 2, 1952, while home on leave from boot camp. He served in the Korean War on the Philippines Seas aircraft carrier, and later on the USS Stembel destroyer with his brother Jim Cole.

After discharge from the Navy in 1955, Frank and Helen moved back to Montana and Frank worked at the Northern Pacific loading docks until he joined the Missoula Police Department in 1956. While on the police force, he also worked part time at Consolidated Freightways and Meadow Gold Dairy. He proudly served 20 years on the force, retiring as assistant police chief in June 1976.

In 1969, Frank and Helen started Cole Campers at their home. Upon retirement from the police force, they continued expanding the business and eventually moved it to Momont Road in Missoula. Frank retired from Cole Campers in 1996, leaving the business to his son Neil and his wife Joyce.

Frank enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, camping and cars. He always had a project car and you never knew what vehicle you would see Frank driving next.

In retirement, he spent countless hours lobbying in Helena for police retirement benefits.

Survivors include his wife, Helen of Missoula; daughter, Cynthia Cole of Portland, Ore.; daughter, Nancy Mostad (Gene) of Missoula; and son, Neil Cole (Joyce) of Missoula. He loved spending time with his seven grandchildren, Michelle Arko, Kara Foster, Tiffany Harris, Justin and Jeremy Cole, and Loren and Lance Mostad; as well as his

6 1/4 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a sister, Dorothy Cole Palmer of Corvallis, Ore.; a brother, James Cole and his wife Lora Cole of Polson; a nephew who is considered a brother, Robert (Bobby) Cole; and sisters-in-law, Esther Cole (Robert) and Frances Cole (Ralph).

Preceding him in death are his parents, Ralph and Violet; brothers, Robert (Bob), Ralph (Curly), Arthur (Art) and Charles (Chuck) and sister, Evelyn O'Connor.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway, Missoula, with Pastor Eric Peterson, who baptized Frank, officiating. Interment will be held immediately after the service at Sunset Memorial located at 7405 Mullan Road, Missoula. A reception will follow back at the Garden City Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made in Frank's name to the Discovery Alliance Church Building Fund, 5475 Trumpeter Way, Missoula, MT 59808

Read Frank Cole's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.