Franklin R. Thompson, 89

Franklin Roosevelt Thompson Sr. of Bigfork went to be with the Lord on Jan. 14, 2023. He slipped away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving wife and children. He was 89 years old.

Frank was born to Alpheus and Mary Louise Thompson on July 22, 1933, in Pontiac, Michigan.

Frank was a go-getter his entire life. He had his first job delivering newspapers by the time he was 10 years old and eventually worked his way up to running the newspaper stand by the time he was 14. In addition to being a hard worker, Frank was a great athlete. He excelled in track, baseball, and boxing. He loved fishing, especially ice fishing and loved hunting in Michigan’s U.P.

After finishing school Frank worked for several years in Pontiac at Pontiac Motors making what he would forever claim to be the best cars in the world. Holding true to that belief Frank drove his Pontiac Bonneville, the “silver bullet,” for the last twenty years of his life.

When he was 25 years old, he moved to Southern California and was a manager at Thrifty Mart Grocery in San Fernando. While working there he met and married the love of his life Loraine Kinley. They were married in 1960 and were happily married for over 62 years. They went on to have four children, Leo, Shari, Frank and Lori.

In 1969 Frank and Loraine moved their family from Southern California to the beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills. They lived in the little gold rush town of Mariposa for the next 40 years and raised all four of their children there. Frank worked for most of those years in the local grocery store, Jack’s Market, where he eventually came to know everyone in town. During his years in Mariposa, he enjoyed golfing, traveling and watching his kids and grandkids participate in sports and other school activities. He would continue to claim throughout his life that Mariposa was the best place in the world to live!

In 2007, Frank and Loraine made the decision to move to Montana to be near their youngest two children who were starting families of their own. Although they hated to leave Mariposa, their good friends and especially their older two children and grandchildren, they decided that the time was right for a new adventure.

In the years after their move, Frank got to enjoy many Montana adventures including snowmobiling, tubing on Echo Lake, riding a quad and parasailing on Flathead Lake. He enjoyed cheering on his grandchildren at football, soccer and wrestling events, as well as watching them perform in concerts and plays. He and Loraine enjoyed a wonderful trip back to Michigan to celebrate their 50th anniversary out on Mackinaw Island, a loving gift from their children. Frank loved meeting and talking to people for hours on end. He never met a stranger! Aside from spending time with his family, Frank loved to take short road trips to the Coeur d’Alene casino, he enjoyed bowling and he loved watching television… especially if it involved sports! You would be hard pressed to have met a more avid Detroit or loyal Michigan fan. Go Blue!

Above all else though, he loved his family. He adored his wife and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were his pride and joy. His favorite moments were when the family would get together for holidays, birthdays and BBQ’s. He treasured them all and they will miss him terribly.

Frank was preceded in death by his father Alpheus Nimrod Thompson; his mother Mary Louise Strong; his stepfather Clarence Strong; his brother Alpheus Nimrod Thompson II; and his sister Mary Leona Uloth.

Frank is survived by his loving wife Loraine; his children Leo (Darcy) Thompson, Shari (Brian) Wass, Frank (Sherry) Thompson and Lori (Dan) Elwell; his siblings Clarence Strong and Ruthann Strong; and 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

The family will be having a private graveside service followed by a celebration of life in the spring.

Arrangements are under the care of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.