On Aug. 7, 2013, Frances Marie (Thomas) Willis died peacefully at Immanuel Lutheran Communities, at the age of 86.
Frances was born April 27, 1927, to Arthur and Grace (Berry) Thomas in Butte. She was welcomed into the family by her siblings, Eugene, Adeline, Melvin and Myrtle. The fond memories of fishing and camping trips, which the family enjoyed with friends and neighbors, often brought a smile to her face.
The Emerson Public Grade School and Butte High School prepared her to enter the work force as a secretary for Pittsburg Glass and Paint Company, where she met Duane Willis, who became her husband on June 10, 1949; to this union eight children were born.
In 1959, the Willis family moved to Kalispell, where Frances continued to be a stay-at-home mom. Once the children graduated from high school and started going their separate ways, she enrolled in classes at Flathead Valley Community College to update her secretarial skills. Once the electric typewriter was mastered, she went to work for St. Matthew's School as a secretary, bookkeeper and dispenser of Band-Aids with TLC.
Several years later she went to work for the City of Kalispell as a secretary in the building department. She later accepted a transfer to the City Attorney's Office, where she worked for approximately four years. While in that position she entered the political arena and became the first female Kalispell city judge. After serving two terms (eight years) she retired at the age of 67.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, B. Duane Willis; her father and mother, Arthur and Grace Thomas; brother, Eugene Thomas; sister, Adeline Thomas, brother, Melvin Thomas; and sister, Myrtle Christie.
She is survived by her son, Tom Willis and his wife, Carol; daughter, Susan Swan; daughter, Vicki Proctor and her husband, Norman; daughter, Linda Berkert and her husband, Glenn; son, Doug Willis and his wife, Kathy; daughter, Michelle Chador; daughter, Alexis Meehan and husband, Mike; son, John Willis; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
She will be profoundly missed and was a testimony of a life well and unselfishly lived.
A memorial Mass will be held at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with interment following at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
To send condolences to the family, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frances Willis, please visit our flower store.
Frances was born April 27, 1927, to Arthur and Grace (Berry) Thomas in Butte. She was welcomed into the family by her siblings, Eugene, Adeline, Melvin and Myrtle. The fond memories of fishing and camping trips, which the family enjoyed with friends and neighbors, often brought a smile to her face.
The Emerson Public Grade School and Butte High School prepared her to enter the work force as a secretary for Pittsburg Glass and Paint Company, where she met Duane Willis, who became her husband on June 10, 1949; to this union eight children were born.
In 1959, the Willis family moved to Kalispell, where Frances continued to be a stay-at-home mom. Once the children graduated from high school and started going their separate ways, she enrolled in classes at Flathead Valley Community College to update her secretarial skills. Once the electric typewriter was mastered, she went to work for St. Matthew's School as a secretary, bookkeeper and dispenser of Band-Aids with TLC.
Several years later she went to work for the City of Kalispell as a secretary in the building department. She later accepted a transfer to the City Attorney's Office, where she worked for approximately four years. While in that position she entered the political arena and became the first female Kalispell city judge. After serving two terms (eight years) she retired at the age of 67.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, B. Duane Willis; her father and mother, Arthur and Grace Thomas; brother, Eugene Thomas; sister, Adeline Thomas, brother, Melvin Thomas; and sister, Myrtle Christie.
She is survived by her son, Tom Willis and his wife, Carol; daughter, Susan Swan; daughter, Vicki Proctor and her husband, Norman; daughter, Linda Berkert and her husband, Glenn; son, Doug Willis and his wife, Kathy; daughter, Michelle Chador; daughter, Alexis Meehan and husband, Mike; son, John Willis; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
She will be profoundly missed and was a testimony of a life well and unselfishly lived.
A memorial Mass will be held at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with interment following at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
To send condolences to the family, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.