William B. Franks, 83

On the evening of August 14, the vigil of the Assumption of the most holy Mother of our Savior, Bill Franks, 83, was born into eternal life.

William Burrese Franks, born in Mount Holly, N.J., on July 18, 1943, was the youngest of four children of Dr. Milford and Margaret Hayes Franks. A father who excelled at tennis and a mother who was a Panamanian swimming champion introduced Bill not only to these sports but others which became his lifetime involvement and enjoyment.

He played several sports during his school years and beyond, including baseball, basketball, football, tennis, swimming, handball and softball. The good student he was, he entrusted to memory the sports statistics of many famous players during his youth. He recalled as a child eagerly going to major league spring baseball practice in Florida with Grandpa Hayes...living on a farm during his young years in Bozeman, his mother cooking on a wood stove...he and his brother, Gene, eating strawberries until they were sick. He always said that he had the 'best childhood'.

Bill's love of athletics led him to coaching...first, coaching little league baseball while in high school...then, coaching his toddler son to "go out for a pass"...and finally coaching his wife on the game of tennis, his only failure! He even designed a football field in his Spokane backyard for neighborhood youngsters to gather, play and receive schooling and encouragement in the game dear to Bill's heart. As his son's athletic ability progressed, Bill made sure Troy and his teammates had a field or gym in which to practice on the weekends. Even though he played for the Bobcats and continued to be a fan, when his son signed on to play for the Griz, a change of allegiance ensued! He never missed one of his son's games.

Bill received a Business Administration degree from Montana State College in Bozeman. In 1968, he married Penny Maun in Missoula. Their son Troy was born in Bozeman the following year. He began his sales career in Spokane, mentoring young men in the profession as he became accomplished in his own career. He eventually owned a Warranty Services company in Kalispell. With a master's degree in Economics and a minor in History, Bill enjoyed sharing his political and business opinions with like-minded friends over coffee and breakfast. He was an avid reader, always knowledgeable concerning current topics. He traveled Montana extensively and knew the name of every mountain, valley and river in the state. He traveled the nation and world during his time with Semitool and developed friendships in many countries.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Milford Jr and sister Patricia Corcoran. He is survived by his wife Penny of 58 years; his son Troy and wife Nicole; brother Gene and wife Pat Franks; sister-in-law Mary Malone; brothers-in-law Rick Malone, John Maun, Clark Maun, Patrick Maun; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Recitation of the Rosary prior at 10:15 a.m. A committal service at 2 p.m. at St. Richard’s Catholic Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.