Myron Frannea

On the evening of Sunday, December 11th, just two weeks before his 90th birthday, Myron C. Frannea of Moorhead, Minnesota, passed away at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, with his family by his side. Born December 25th, 1926, in Mahnomen, Minnesota, to Charles and Gena (Momb) Frannea, Myron was the Christmas gift his parents proudly presented to his siblings. While not the puppy sister Gail and brothers Manfred, Axel, Russell, and Norman had asked Santa to receive, he won over their smiles as the sweet and kindhearted baby boy of the family. A few years later, little sister Velzora arrived to complete the family tree. After growing up in Mahnomen, Holmesville, Detroit Lakes, and finally Frazee, Minnesota, in 1944 Myron—with the permission of his mother and father—took a leave of absence from his high school education at the age of 17 to enlist in the United States Navy during World War II. Brothers Axel and Russell were already serving their country in the navy, and brother Norman was serving in the army, so Myron was eager to join in and do his part. With his basic training and additional specialty instruction completed, his destination became the island of Okinawa, Japan, where he achieved and served in the rank of Carpenter's Mate 3rd Class. Upon being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, Myron returned to Frazee to finish his high school education, graduating in the spring of 1947. With diploma in hand, Fargo was the next stop for Myron to work in the appliance, radio, and television parts department at Reinhard Brothers, a wholesale supplier. Over twenty years later, Myron changed careers to become the supervisor of the newly constructed Travel Information Center, operated by the State of Minnesota on Interstate 94 in Moorhead. His wonderful and commendable 22 years of employment there concluded with his retirement in 1992. On June 4th, 1950, Myron wed E. Anita Engleson at Egelund Church in Holmesville Township, Becker County, Minnesota. The couple lived in Moorhead, but in the early 1960s built their beautiful weekend retreat cabin on Island Lake, which was just a very short distance as the crow flies from Anita's parents' farm near the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. In 1963 at Moorhead's St. Ansgar hospital, son Ronald was born; at the same hospital in 1967, son Michael was born. Myron and Anita raised their boys in Moorhead, at first across the street east from Grace United Methodist Church, and then in 1978 to the present in their house just across the street to the north of Minnesota State University Moorhead. Myron had an incredible knack for doing excellent work at just about everything he decided to try, from home, auto, and small engine repairs; painting, construction and remodeling; craft work; cooking; to fishing and hunting. His most beloved hobby of all, though, was gardening, whether growing vegetables at Anita's parents' farm, or growing plants and flowers at the lake cabin or the house. His labor of love was tending to the magnificent Blue Star Memorial Highway garden at the Travel Information Center during evenings and weekends—even into his retirement years. As a Minnesota Twins fan, Myron was thrilled to see the team win the World Series twice, and as a Minnesota Vikings fan, like most of us, was disappointed, but he still maintained an interest in the team. When he wasn't watching them on television, he enjoyed listening to the Twins on his 1960s-era Zenith transistor radio, whether working in his shed or simply enjoying the view of his backyard while seated in a comfortable chair on the deck. He enjoyed so many favorite food dishes, and coffee…always coffee. He also had a sweet tooth that favored maple nut or strawberry ice cream, German chocolate cake, lefse, Grandma's homemade donuts, and Anita's wondrous pies, especially rhubarb, pecan and lemon meringue. On Sunday evenings, such treats were especially enjoyed while watching Lawrence Welk. During the twilight years of his life, Myron always tried his absolute best to keep up with his exercises and other therapies as the ravages of Parkinsonism progressed. After suffering from aspiration pneumonia during October, it was a heartbreaking day when his source of nutrition required the sole use of a feeding tube; it was a heart-wrenching day when his recent request for a fried egg or hot cereal or cooked wild rice had to be tearfully declined because of the risk of further aspiration…. Myron is survived by his son Ronald, of Moorhead, and his son Michael (Roxanne), of Hazen, ND; his sister Velzora of Puyallup, Washington; brother-in-law Roger (Rebecca) Engleson of Fergus Falls, MN; sister-in-law Mary Jane Engleson of Moorhead; sister-in-law Lois Fretheim of Spokane, Washington; sister-in-law Dorene Engleson of Detroit Lakes, MN; numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Anita, his parents; his father-in-law Edward Engleson, and his mother-in-law Ales Engleson; his brothers Manfred, Axel, Russell, and Norman, and his sister Gail; brothers-in-law Floyd Engleson, Donald Engleson, Norman Fretheim, Herb Stark, Ruel Pederson; sisters-in-law Margie Engleson, Shirley Frannea, Doris Frannea and Genevieve George.

A note of thanks is expressed to those Sanford doctors, therapists, nurses, nursing assistants, and staff who truly helped care for Myron. Additional thanks are offered to the Sanford Home Health team who assisted Myron at his home. Finally, special thanks to Pastor Aaron Suomala Folkerds of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Moorhead, the Sanford Hospital Chaplains, the Berg Family Quilters for making a beautiful quilt for the hospital stay, the Grafton Mennonite Church Youth Carolers for singing outside the hospital room the day before he passed, and all others who took time to visit with Myron. A kind and friendly man, Myron was a beloved father who will be greatly missed. Funeral Services for Myron will be held Saturday, December 17 at 3:30pm in David Donehower Funeral Home of Detroit Lakes. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Interment will be held in the spring at Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Service
Saturday, December 17, 2016

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