Francis 'Frank' W Kirschten Obituary (1931

Francis William Kirschten, born May 26th, 1931, was the third son of Michel Mike and Lorene Kirschten, raised on a farm and ranch 4 miles east of Baker, Montana. Franks love of land, and knowledge of grasses and range management began during his years growing up on the family farm. Prior to graduating high school in 1950, he played the tuba in the marching band and center position on the basketball team. He was also an Air Scout and Salutatorian of his graduating class. In 1955, Frank graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Range Management from the School of Forestry. During his college years, he earned money to pay for school by running trap-lines, delivering newspapers, performed in bars as a solo singer and guitarist, and worked for the Forest service at Sula and Ennis during the summer. His first two years out of college, he was Assistant Supervisor of Grazing and Cultivation for the Northern Pacific Railroad from St. Paul to Seattle. A yearning to return to the land brought him to Circle, MT where he took up grain farming and met his wife Betty Jo Huseby. They dated for over a year while Betty finished college whereupon Frank promptly proposed to Betty and married her weeks later on July 22nd, 1961 in Circle, Montana. Following several years of Frank farming and Betty teaching, and the birth of their son Jason, they purchased a dairy farm in Wallowa, Oregon and had their daughter Deanna. Following an injury, Frank applied for employment with the US Department of Agriculture where he was hired on with the Soil Conservation Service at Great Falls, MT as a Range Conservationist. After working in Great Falls for a year and having a second son, Kevin, Frank worked for three years in Glendive, MT as a Range Conservationist and then six years in Deer Lodge, MT as District Range Conservationists. For his final eighteen years with the SCS, Frank worked in Missoula, MT as both an Area Range Conservationist and then Area Resource Conservationist for Western, MT. During his years with the SCS, Frank enjoyed working with farmers and ranchers; speaking at conferences; running training camps; mentoring many in the field; writing articles published in various magazines; and much more. After retiring, Frank and Betty enjoyed trips to Mexico, Alaska, Florida, and the Western coastline and Southwestern states. Frank enjoyed geo-cashing to stay fit, and also picked up wood carving and helped carve wooden horses for the downtown Missoula carousel. Several years following retirement, Frank and Betty moved to Ellensburg, WA to live closer to their three children, and four grandchildren. They lived here for over 10 years, where he spent his few days surrounded by family passing away peacefully on August 14th, 2019 at the age of 88. Frank is survived by wife Betty Jo Kirschten (Huseby); brother Elmer Joseph Joe (Nadia Zin); sister-in-law Miriam (Crawford) Kirschten, wife of James; son Jason (Dana Eacret) Kirschten; daughter Deanna (Mays Patrick Pat) Brenner; son Kevin (Kristin Wuerch) Kirschten; granddaughters Haley Kirschten and Michaela Kirschten daughters of Kevin and Kristin; and grandsons Michael Kirschten and Jacob Kirschten, sons of Jason and Dana. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother James Douglas Kirschten; and brother Michael Eugene Gene and wife Isabelle (Ihli) Kirschten. Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrews Catholic Church, 401 South Willow Street, Ellensburg. A reception will be held following the graveside service in the church hall. Visitation St. Andrews Catholic Church Saturday, August 17, 2019 9:00 AM 401 South Willow St. Ellensburg, Washungton 98926 Mass of Christian Burial St. Andrews Catholic Church Saturday, August 17, 2019 10:00 AM 401 South Willow St. Ellensburg, Washungton 98926 Graveside Service Holy Cross Cemetery Saturday, August 17, 2019 11:30 AM Ellensburg,