Funny River resident Mrs. Donna Mae Franzen,
78, died in her sleep Saturday, April 10, 2010, at her home with her companion
of 20 years, Gail Geer, by her side.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m.
Thursday, April 15, at the Funny River Community Lutheran Church. Pastor George
Rakos will officiate. A potluck will immediately follow the services at the
Funny River Community Center. She will be inurned at the Angelus Cemetery in
Anchorage next to her husband at a later date.
Mrs. Franzen was born Dec. 6, 1931, to Emil and
Irene Morken in Pekin, N.D.
"She met the love of her life, Harry R. Franzen
and they married Sept. 23, 1951, and shortly after moved to Anchorage in 1955,"
her family said.
She was a housewife and mother of five
daughters. She was partners in Spenard Bingo Hall and the Friendly Fireside
Lounge. She moved to the "Cabin" built in 1984 by family and friends on the
Kenai River in Soldotna in 1992. She also belonged to the American Legion Post
No. 1, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Funny River Community Lutheran Church, and
the Funny River Crafters and Quilters.
"She loved to have her friends over to play a
game of Domino's, Nickel's or a game of cribbage. Donna enjoyed making quilts,
and working on her sewing projects," her family said.
Mrs. Franzen was preceded in death by her
parents; husband; son-n-law, Duane Sprinkle; daughter, Janet Lacey-Miller; and
brother Eugene, Morken of Fargo, N.D.
She is survived by her daughters, Alice Beattie
and her husband, Dick, Linda Breuer and her husband, Dave, Marie Draper and her
husband, Kris, and Karen Reimann and her husband, Frank; grandchildren, Leona
and Melissa Sprinkle, Leon, Ryan, Kyle and Wade Dwiggins, Travis and Kari Lacey,
Michael and Bradley Reimann, and Sara and Scott Breauer; great-grandchildren,
Duane and Diamond Hunter, and Kevin Uhl and Emily Lacey; sisters, Lois Orwick of
Michigan, N.D., and Dorothy Luehring and her husband, Wayne of Lakota, N.D.; and
many extended family, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that
memorial donations may be made to the Funny River Community Lutheran Church,
P.O. Box 2084 Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial
Chapel.
Source: Peninsula Clarion,
April 13, 2010
