Frank Edward Boylan, 83

Frank always said he wanted to just drop over in a duck blind or while hunting, and thats what happened on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005, when he was hunting pheasants in the Choteau area. He really loved hunting and Montana.

He was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1922, to Frank and Hazel Boylan, and graduated from Ashtabula High School in 1941.

He was in the Navy for three years, then became a race driver, first raced midgets, and then a car in the NASCAR circuit. He also attended Ohio University in business administration for a couple years.

He married Lavella Emery in 1952, then wanted to move and settle down in Montana. He had spent time at the Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork hunting, so we headed for Bigfork. We lived in one of their cabins for awhile before moving to a home on Flathead Lake between Somers and Lakeside, and eventually buying a home right in Lakeside.

In 1972, we bought a home in Kalispell, where we have lived ever since.

Frank had many jobs in Montana, forest ranger, deputy sheriff, insurance sales, and eventually pipe fitting.

He enjoyed hunting, trap shooting, skeet shooting, training dogs, and watching race driving and sports on TV. He also took flying lessons and bought his own plane. He belonged to the Gun Dog Club. He had a good life and thoroughly enjoyed walking with his wife and dog, and just talking to people.

He went on a 15 mile bike ride on the Hiawatha Trail in Idaho with his son, Justin, in July of this year, which was a dream of his.

Frank will be greatly missed by his wife of 53 years, Lavella; his two boys, Justin Michael of Kalispell, and Frank Edward Jr. and his wife, Nancy, of Whitefish, and his daughter, Betsy Ann, and her husband, Rob Augustine, of Hemet, Calif. He will also be missed by a foster brother, James Kisela, and his wife, Mary Lou, in Willoughby, Ohio; and a nephew, Greg Simmons, in Ashtabula, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and a sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Lyle Simmons. He will be missed by his dog, Andrew, who was with him when he died.

Arrangements are being made by the Johnson Funeral Home to have him cremated.

A luncheon in memory of Frank will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the Eagles Lodge on Monday.