Francis G. Franzen, age 82, resident of rural Lakota, ND, died Friday, November 25, 2011 at the Nelson County Health System Care Center in McVille, ND.

Francis Glenn Franzen was born December 14, 1928 at Lakota, ND, the son of Paul Sr. and Edith (Glenn) Franzen. He was raised in the Lakota area and attended school at Center #2 near Mapes, ND. Francis worked in Alaska from 1969 until 1989. While there he was a member of the Culinary Union and worked as a cook in the camps that constructed the Alaska pipeline. He also was involved with commercial fishing and a gold mining operation in Alaska. He then returned home to Lakota and farmed with his brother, Thomas.

Francis is survived by 3 sisters, Margaret Ann Getty of St. Anthony, MN, Gretchen Desautels of Houston, TX, and Virginia Anderson of Erie, CO; and 31 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 brothers, Paul "Buddy", Bernard, and Thomas.

A visitation for Francis will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. We will pray the rosary together at 1:00 p.m. followed by burial in the Lakota Cemetery. The casketbearers will be Francis' nephews.