Bennie Franz

Bennie Franz, longtime Moses Lake resident succumbs.

Bennie Franz, 98 years of age, and a resident of the Lake Ridge Special Care Center passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2011. He was born in McIntosh County, North Dakota September 13, 1912 to Jake and Mary (Knopp) Franz. The oldest of six children, he received an 8th grade education in the rural schools of his day and grew to manhood in McIntosh County with the dream of someday "going west".

In 1934 he married Velva Irene Sprouse, a young lady that was teaching school in his vicinity. In 1939 they gave their hearts to the Lord and were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church of which he remained a member until his death. Five children were born to this union. As a family provider he was initially a farmer. He also owned and operated a dairy, and bought and sold milk cows. In the early 1950s he began doing masonry work which eventually led into the building of houses and commercial construction such as controlled atmosphere storage buildings from which he retired in 1983.

The family resided in ND until 1956, then left Ellendale and moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, living there until 1961. It was then that his dream to come west materialized, and a final move was made to Moses Lake, Washington. Upon his retirement from construction, he turned his attention to yet another love of his, woodworking, furniture stripping and antiques. This business he named, "Oak and Board", enjoying it until he became incapacitated.

During his lifetime he enjoyed hunting and fishing, horseback riding, and flying small aircraft.

He leaves to mourn his five children: Kenneth (Norma) Franz, Berrien Springs, MI, Lois (Robert) Smith, Moses Lake, WA, Jo Ann (Curtis) Hall, Yakima, WA, James (Robyn) Franz, Spokane, WA, and Timothy Franz, Liberty Lake, WA; Two brothers Lee (Irene) Franz, Aberdeen, SD, and Melvin (Doris) Franz, Gig Harbor, WA; eleven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 73 years, Irene, his parents, two brothers, and an infant sister.

Funeral services will be held at the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1601 W. Valley Rd., Moses Lake, WA on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

Graveside burial services will be in Ellendale Cemetery, Ellendale, North Dakota, and will be announced at a later date.

Please visit www.carverfamilyfuneralhome.com to leave a note or message for Bennie's family and sign his online guestbook.

Arrangements are in care of Carver Family Funeral Home, Moses Lake, WA, and Hoven's Funeral Home, Ellendale, ND.