Frances O. "Franny" Eidsness

Frances O. “Franny” Eidsness, 83 of rural Brocket, ND passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at her home. Funeral Services for Franny will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at United Lutheran Church of Brocket with Reverend Don Reynolds officiating.  Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday, December 19th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Frances was born on July 29, 1934 at Pekin, ND, the daughter of Olaf and Elizabeth May (Loudon) Kolden.  Frances’s early years were spent in the Lakota area.  The family later moved to Tokio where they ran the Woodlake Resort for many years.  Frances attended high school in Warwick and Crary, graduating from Crary High School with the class of 1952.  In 1952, Frances was united in marriage to Mervin Eidsness at Crary.  They established their home on the family farm where she has resided until her death.  Mervin died in 1988.  Franny was very active in her community and her church.  As the children were growing up she was a Brocket Rockets 4-H Club leader, member of the PTA and Brocket Community Club.  She was a member and past president of the Ramsey County Farm Bureau Women’s Organization, also active member in the Lake Region Pioneer Daughters, Friends of the Fort Totten Historic Site, Lake Region Heritage Center and served in several capacities with the Devils Lake Business and Professional Women’s Club.  Franny and her sisters volunteered many hours revamping  rooms at the Red Willow Bible Camp.  Franny was a faithful member of the United Lutheran Church since her marriage.  She was dedicated to all the works of the ELCA, active in the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and served as President of the Devils Lake Conference of ELCA.  She taught Sunday School for many years and also served as Superintendent, acted as an advisor to the Luther League in the early 1950’s and proudly served on the United Lutheran Church Council, as the first woman president.  She knew the importance of service to her church and community, but her pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She treasured every moment spent with them.  Frances is survived by her children: Steven (Laurie) Eidsness, Brocket, Sandra Grunenwald, Boise, Idaho and Gail (Corey) Ames, Devils Lake: grandchildren Shane (Lori) Eidsness, Troy Eidsness, Jay (April) Grunenwald, Jill (Jake) Wimer, Kimberly (Greg) Ough, Karla (Rob) Haman, Christopher (Danielle) Moe and Mason Ames; great grandchildren Cody and Hannah Eidsness, Morgan and Emily Eidsness, Nova Grunenwald, Kathryn and Elizabeth Wimer, Abygail, Caleb and Lola Ough, Archer and Terrence Haman; brother Bruce (Donna) Kolden of Fargo; brother-in-law Syl Brown, Devils Lake; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Mervin and sisters Virginia Bowman and Edith Brown.  Casket Bearers will be Chris Moe, Shane Eidsness, Troy Eidsness, Tim Freund, Jeff Malarkey, Blake Heinz, Bob Brown and Jay Grunenwald.  Music will be provided by Sharon Blekestad, vocalist and Jean Aardahl, pianist.