Frances Gabriel Wolfe, 85

Frances Gabriel Wolfe, 85, passed away at her home in Kalispell on Aug. 4, 2010. Frances was born Nov. 29, 1924, in Onaka, S.D., to Andrew Gabriel and Magdalena Winterhalt, who were German immigrants. She was the youngest of eleven children. Her mother passed away in 1932. Frances left the family farm shortly afterward and lived with an aunt in Ipswich. A few years later, she moved to Seattle to live with her sister, Claudia. There she married and had three sons. Frances ran a boarding house and worked at a meat-packing plant. She later divorced and moved to Kalispell to be near family. Frances met Robert Wolfe in Somers, and they married on May 15, 1957. They had two daughters. The family lived in Kalispell until 1969, when they moved to Polson, and purchased The Mint Bar and Cafe. After a fire, the place was rebuilt into The Wolf Den. Frances took care of the books and payroll, and also bartended. The business was sold in 1979. They remained in Polson until 2000, when Fran and Bob moved back to Kalispell. Frances spent her early years in Kalispell as a volunteer for the Gray Ladies and the school district. She loved to sing and learned to play the bass guitar. She was an avid reader and a great cook. Family and friends were dear to her. She loved visiting with friends and dancing at the Saturday afternoon Valley Jam sessions at the Eagles. Frances was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Claudia Buhler, Eva Hess, Rosie Feiock Ferguson and Margaret Baumgartner; and four brothers, Martin, John, Roy and Mike Gabriel. Frances is survived by her husband of 53 years, Robert Wolfe; her sons, Michael Edmundson of La Luz, N.M., and Mark and Matthew Edmundson of Missoula; her daughters, Diana Wolfe Passow of Kalispell, and Carrie Wolfe and son-in-law, Pat Harvey of Wasilla, Alaska; her brothers, Andrew Gabriel of Redfield, S.D., and Frank and Bonnie Gabriel of Cresbard, S.D.; sister-in-law, Sarah Gabriel of Grand Junction, Colo.; and two grandchildren, Jeb Passow of Salt Lake City, and Augusta Passow of Polson. At her request, no services will be held. You are invited to go to the Buffalo Hill Funeral Home website at www.buffalohillfh.com to send condolences to the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.