Velva "Irene" Sprouse Franz

Irene was born on March 30, 1913, to Grace (Newborn) Sprouse and Vernon Sprouse. She went to her rest on Aug. 11, 2007. She grew up on a farm near Ellendale, N.D., where she graduated from high school, and later received a teaching certificate from the State Normal and Industrial College located in Ellendale.

Her first teaching position was south of Kulm, N.D., where she met a young farmer by the name of Bennie Franz. They were married May 6, 1934. She taught two more years until the arrival of their first child, at which time she settled into being a full-time mother and farmer's wife. Five children were born to Irene and Bennie. Kenneth (Norma) Franz of Berrien Springs, Mich., Lois (Robert) Smith, Moses Lake, Jo-Ann (Curtis) Hall, Yakima, James (Robyn) Franz and Timothy Franz, Spokane. Irene and Bennie resided near Ellendale, N.D. until 1956 when they moved to Rapid City, S.D. where Irene resumed her teaching career in a rural school east of Rapid City. In 1961 they moved to Moses Lake. While in Moses Lake she taught at the Seventh-day-Adventist Church School, the Girls Job Corps, and she substituted in the public school system. Upon her retirement from teaching she was a key person in the founding of the "Little Friend Day Care Center" (now "Brite Beginnings"). She managed the day care until she retired at he age of 82.

She publicly announced her decision to live for the Lord with her baptism in October of 1939 at which time she became an active member of the Seventh-day-Adventist Church. She held such offices as treasurer, head deaconess, Sabbath school superintendent, vacation bible school leader, school board chair-person, and pianist. She was a leader in all of the children's divisions at one time or another except for the Cradle Roll Division. She was an avid reader, and she loved to bake.

She leaves to mourn her husband Bennie of 73 years, her five children, two sisters, Glenna Mattheis of Ellendale, N.D., Ruby Kelaher of San Jose, Calif., 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, teo great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends and former students.

Her parents, brother, Ivan Sprouse, and sister, Eva Hasz preceded her in death.

Services will be held at the Moses Lake Seventh-day-Adventist Church, 1601 West Valley Rd. Moses Lake. A final visitation time will be held Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, at 1 p.m. with the services following at 2 p.m.

A graveside service will be held Aug. 22, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the Ellendale Cemetery, Ellendale, N.D. Arrangements are in care of Stevens Funeral Chapel, Othello, Wash., and Hoven's Funeral Home, Ellendale, N.D.