Anthony "Tony" M. Frank

Anthony M. (Tony) Frank, 83, went to his eternal home on Monday, June 19, surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Friday, June 23, at Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave., Bismarck, with Rev. Dennis Schafer officiating. Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Thursday, June 22, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a rosary/vigil service will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Tony was born in Flasher, ND on August 26, 1933, to Ralph and Anne (Fleck) Frank. Tony was raised on the family farm where he grew to love the land and the outdoors. Always a man of deep faith, Tony discerned a vocation to the priesthood at Crosier Seminary in Minnesota during his freshman year in high school. He graduated from Flasher High School in 1953. He trekked three miles to school every day, in the winter hitching up the horse and sleigh. His love of the outdoors led him to a 45-year career with ND Game and Fish, and a life-long love of gardening. When he would return from out-of-town work, his children would come running to greet Dad and sit on his lap. While pitching bundles at the Schafer family farm, he caught sight of Mary Schafer and told the threshing crew, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry.” Tony and Mary were married on November 3, 1954 at Saint Lawrence Church in Flasher. They moved to Bismarck where they raised their six children. They were founding members of Saint Anne Church, where Tony was active in the Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, and Cursillo, and president of the St. Anne School Board. An avid hunter and sportsman, Tony played football, basketball, baseball, ran track, and even tried his hand at boxing. He loved softball and continued playing well into his 50s, pitching his way to the state championship with Bill’s Husky with a winning score of 19 to 9. He was especially proud of playing on the Fire and Shame team with his four sons in the 1970-80s. Tony and Mary, along with their children and grandchildren, built many memories during summer vacations at Long Lake in Minnesota. His later years were wrought with health issues, leaving him homebound under the care of his wife and family, and the wonderful caregivers of Sanford Home Healthcare. However difficult his health issues, he remained a positive and joyful force for his family and friends, never allowing anyone to leave his home without saying, “I love you.” He found great joy in the company of his family, watching Twins baseball, and reading Louis L’Amour books. Tony is survived by his devoted wife, Mary, of 63 years,; his six children, Joel (Karen), Jeff (Terri), Jim (Laura), Jerry (Sue), Jocelyn, and Jenifer (Tom); nineteen grandchildren, Travis, Nicole, Tony (Emily), Andrew (Ashley), Greta (Tristan), Jordan (Nicole), Robert (Eliza), Adam (Stephanie), Kristin (Ted), Barbara (Joseph), Greg, Hannah (Ryan), Tim (Rachel), Joel (Megan), Matthew, Sarah (Sam), Benjamin, Isaiah, and Andrea; 14 great-grandchildren, Alexander, Jack, Ann Marie, Aaron, Samuel, Lucas, Brea, Veronica, Elliot, Rose Marie, Bode, Madeleine, Otto, and Aidan, and special friends Daniel, Tayna, Claire and Max Adewumni; two sisters, Loretta Sinclair and Eileen Friesz; sisters-in-law, Marge (Andy) Schweitzer, Jeanie (Matt) Kraft; brothers-in-law, Adam Schafer, John Schafer, and Jim (Marie) Schafer, and many nieces and nephews dear to his heart. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family prefers memorials to BACEF or God’s Child.