Francis Louis Nadeau, 69

Francis Louis Nadeau, 69, died Feb. 28, 2025, in Kalispell.

When memories are all, you have left … 

When I think of my Uncle Francis, I think of his quiet way of speaking. He may have been quiet, a trait my brother and myself and others have picked up, but he was always good for a laugh or advise. He loved his family and did all he could to show us that. His phone was always on, he was always remembering birthdays and celebrating our accomplishments.

Francis started his informative life in Butte. After his high school graduation, his journey took him to the dry and dusty oil fields of Sidney where he stayed for many years. Family commitments took him back to North Dakota to help his mother with his elderly grandparents, and he moved them all to the beautiful Bitterroot Valley where he started a small sales and service business with his younger brother, Charlie. 

After the death of his grandparents and his mother, his journey brought him north to Missoula where he started his lifelong career with Town Pump. While there, he held many different titles from cashiering to management and had many opportunities. 

His journey through life brought him many places; from Missoula he headed north to Ronan then had a stop in Polson; next was Columbia Falls, and his final journey ended in Kalispell where he retired after many fulfilling years. In his free time, Francis loved fishing, fishing and more fishing. 

My soft-spoken Uncle lived a long, fulfilling life. He loved and was loved by all his family — two brothers, five sisters, nephews, nieces; anyone he met was a friend. He will be greatly missed by those of us who knew him; I am proud to call him my uncle. Uncle Francis, I love you and I miss you. We all love you and miss you. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks or Zoo Montana. A memorial service to be held in June in Missoula area. To send online condolences, please visit www.columbiamortuary.com.