Frances peacefully went home to be with the Lord on May 15, 2018. She was 95.

Frances was born in the city of Oriska, County of Burleigh, North Dakota, on Feb. 11, 1923, to German and Swedish immigrant parents, father, William Detmers born in South Dakota from German parents, and mother, Carrie (Segren) Detmers of Sweden. She was the youngest of three children, along with sister, Dorothy, and brother, Harvey. She was raised on the family farm in Grand Prairie Township (Valley City), Barnes County, North Dakota.

At the young age of 18, Frances moved to Eagle Bend, Minnesota, where she met and married serviceman Albert D. Peterson of Rose City, Minnesota, in Todd County, Minnesota on Dec. 27, 1941. She and Albert had two daughters, Janet Frances on Dec. 21, 1942, shortly after Albert was shipped off to serve in World War II, and Althea Kae, born Dec. 12, 1955. After Althea was born, they moved to Redlands, California, to start a new life.

Frances and Albert divorced in August 1975. She went to work at an assisted living facility after receiving her LVN license, where she met and married John (Jack) James Kay, of New Jersey, on Feb. 11, 1976, in Redlands, California. They were together until Jack passed away on September 21, 1985.

Frances resided in Redlands until the death of her eldest daughter Janet in March 2004, when she moved to Fargo, North Dakota, in May 2005 to be near her sister and extended family. Finding it more and more difficult to live on her own, in October 2014, Frances moved to Luther Park Assisted Living in Sandpoint, Idaho, to be near her only granddaughter, Heidi.

For a hobby, Frances enjoyed painting not scenery in oils as well as porcelain and fine china plates, tea cups and saucers.

Frances is preceded in death by her parents, William and Carrie Detmers; brother Harvey; sister Dorothy (Ruben) Ochsner of Fargo, North Dakota; Janet F. Gregoire of San Bernardino, Calif., Althea K. Whalen of Yucca Valley, Calif., Albert (Mary) Peterson of Yucaipa, Calif., and Jack Kay of Redlands, Calif.; as well as many other friends and extended family in North Dakota and Minnesota.

She is survived by her only living relatives, her grandson, Gerald L. Dronen II, (Angie Jerig), of Cheyenne, Wyoming; her granddaughter, Heidi (Chuck) Luettgerodt, of Sandpoint; a niece, Colleen (Larry) Czichotzki of Fargo, North Dakota, and one nephew, Allen (Marlene) and their son Nathan Ochsner of Fargo, North Dakota.

A small memorial service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Fargo, North Dakota, at a date to be announced.

Family and friends are invited to sign Frances’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Coffelt Funeral Services of Sandpoint.