Frank Loewen

Frank Loewen, 80, retired to a life of fishing in his new heavenly body on December. 22, 2008.





He was born July 2, 1928, in Hazen, N.D., the eighth of 13 children. Though he was born in North Dakota, don’t mistake him for anything other than a true Montana boy. He attended Franklin Elementary school in Missoula. As a young boy, and all through life, Frank was an avid hunter and fisherman, and became known for his classic fisherman’s tales. Every year the fish got bigger and bigger, but he always swore he had the pictures to back him up.





After returning from Germany and the Korean War in 1952, Frank attended a birthday party on November. 28, for a red haired 18-year-old by the name of Mary, and you could say the rest was history. They married a year later on November. 27, 1953. In the three years that followed they had two sons and a daughter.





As the superintendent for Felton Construction for more than 28 years, Frank and Mary traveled to Alaska, an excuse for Frank to partake in the hunting and fishing practices he so enjoyed. Although his job may have seemed ordinary, he played a major role in building Missoula from the basement up. His handy work can be seen from the University of Montana campus to the South Hills, though he may be more famous for saving 1-year-old Bonnie Schafer from an irrigation ditch on Eaton Street in 1958. The Schafer family remained close friends, and attended Frank’s 80th birthday in July 2008.





In the 1970s, he bought a half acre of land in the Target Range area for what would be pennies today. In 2003, he and his children built his dream home on this same plot. Special thanks to Jhan Sorensn for being such a welcoming neighbor, often helping with more than just landscaping.





As any good Missoula native should be, Frank was a loyal Griz fan, even in his final rest he sported his Montana Grizzlies cap. Always a prankster, and full of life, he could be seen outrunning his grandsons clear into his 70s. He was a fierce competitor, especially when it came to his top-notch tomatoes, and the gardening that brought him such joy. Forever a boy at heart.





He was proceeded in death by his parents, Henry and Martha; brothers, Roy, Vic, Lawrence, George and Darol; sisters, Esther and Louella; and beloved in-laws, Moe and Robbie Smith.





Survivors include his wife, Mary; sons, Larry (Lynn) and Ed (Shirley); daughter, Diane Rapp (Kevin); and grandchildren, Laramie, Kiam (Danielle), Jared Rapp (Jasma), Frank, Adam, Billie, Logan, Kyle, and great-granddaughter Kahlia. Not to mention the many Missoula kids that will always remember him as Grandpa.





A special thanks goes out to faithful friends and fishing buddies, Don Parasini, Uncle Bob Zachariasen and Ivar Lillebo who were there until the end. Thanks to extraordinary niece, Kathy Mitchell, for all her support and love. Thank you to doctors Menendez and Beatty, and all the devoted nurses of the St. Patrick Cancer and Radiation Center. Also, Dr. Curtis of the Missoula VA, Dr. Kress of Western Montana Clinic, Hospice of Missoula, and Partners In Home Care. Finally, to the family he found at Christian Assembly and Foursquare Church.





His greatest joy was his grandchildren, and great-granddaughter, all of whom have too many fond memories of their Grandpa to include in such a small space. We can hear him now, “Fishy, fishy in the brook, come and bite on Grandpa’s hook.” We love you and miss you already.





Service will be held on Tuesday, December. 30, at the Christian Assembly and Foursquare Church at 3 p.m. with Pastor Mike McGovern officiating. A reception will follow.




Read Frank Loewen's Obituary and Guestbook.