D. Franklin Kohl, 94

D. Franklin Kohl of Arlee died at St. Peter s Hospital in Helena on July 6, 2010, following a short illness. Franklin was born to William F. and Edith Ann (Garst) Kohl in Yates Center, Kan., on April 13, 1916, and lived in various parsonages throughout Kansas before the family relocated to Aberdeen, S.D., in the early 1930s. Franklin enjoyed a youth filled with hiking, bird hunting and taxidermy, and helped extend the family s resources by working as a newspaper carrier. After two years of college in Aberdeen, Franklin transferred to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees. At Drake, Franklin met LaVern DeLong who would become his dearest companion for 75 years. Franklin loved to travel and spent the summer of 1937 touring England by bicycle. He preached in various communities in Iowa and Nebraska while completing seminary and accepted his first calling as the minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Grand Island, Neb., in 1939. Franklin and LaVern were wed on Aug. 7, 1940, in Lake City, Iowa, beginning their married life and partnership in Christian ministry. From 1945-1955, Franklin served as the enthusiastic and popular pastor of a large congregation in Maryville, Mo. Throughout his career, he always undertook at least one major project in each church he served " in Maryville it was securing a new pipe organ, an endeavor which took several years to complete. In 1949 he completed additional schooling at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif. In 1955 Franklin and LaVern answered the call of the mountains, which had always been a lure to them, when he assumed the position of minister at the Central Christian Church in Great Falls. He served there until 1966, leading the congregation in the construction of a new education building. Franklin continued his passions for traveling and the great outdoors as he took family and friends on journeys throughout the world, and enjoyed countless hunting, fishing and camping trips in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Glacier National Park. He was also an avid amateur photographer. Christianity, world peace and reconciliation were constant themes in Franklin s life. He completed his ministerial career as the Disciples of Christ regional minister for Montana, from 1967-1981. He spent countless hours driving the highways and byways of Montana, helping to coordinate the state s Christian fellowships. Franklin was also active in the Montana Association of Churches and the Great Falls Ministerial Association; was on the Northwest Christian University Board of Trustees in Eugene, Ore., and the Disciples of Christ Church Extension board of directors; and traveled with the Witness for Peace program to Nicaragua and Guatemala. Following retirement in 1981, Franklin and LaVern spent the next 25 years as members of the American Tree Farm Association, managing their Two Rivers Tree Farm in the Jocko Canyon of western Montana. They were also ardent supporters of the Society of Friends (Quaker) communities in Missoula and St. Ignatius. Growing a garden, raising llamas and dogs, working in the woods, hiking in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter brought pleasure and satisfaction to Franklin during his retirement years. Following an illness in 2005, Franklin and LaVern joined the Waterford community in Helena, where they have enjoyed the kind and devoted staff, and long walks in the surrounding neighborhoods. Franklin was preceded in death by his parents; half sister, Neoma Kohl Beale; brothers, Leon, Robert Homer and Herbert Kohl; and grandson, Benjamin Kohl. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, LaVern DeLong Kohl; sons, David of Cincinnati, and Stephen and wife, Katie, of Sweet Home, Ore.; daughters, Ruth Solie of Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Rebecca Kohl and husband, Kirby, Lambert of Helena; grandchildren, David W. Kohl and JoAnn of Portland, Nathaniel Kohl and Becky of Westport, Conn., Mary Solie and Jiancarlo of Costa Rica; Paul Solie and Jessica of Minneapolis, and Jane Solie of Missoula; great-granddaughter, Claire Solie, of Minneapolis; numerous nieces and nephews; and special neighbors, Hank and Carol Adams and family. Cremation has taken place. A private memorial service is planned for later this summer. The family requests that memorials be sent to a hospice of the donor s choice; or the Disciples Peace Fellowship, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46208-1986, or http://dpfweb.org/donate/. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.