Obituary of Avis Frank

In the wee hours of November 30, 2016, Avis Marian (Hatlelid) Frank died at her residence in Gravelbourg, SK. Born on May 3, 1926, in Lafleche, SK, she was raised in the beautiful hills and coulees northwest of Wood Mountain, SK by her parents, Emma (Graves) and Martin Hatlelid, with sister, Shirley, and brothers, Tom and Don. Graduating high school early, Avis worked in Ottawa for a year before returning to Saskatchewan to attend Normal School in Moose Jaw. An inveterate lifelong learner, Avis started her teaching career at Alloa country school, south of Mankota. After a stint at Winston School in Fir Mountain, Avis joined her sister, Shirley, where they comprised the entire staff at Wood Mountain School in 1947-48. As the new teacher in Bateman in the fall of 1948, she drew the attention of the handsome, young Henry Frank. They married on a hot, July day in 1949 and began their lives on the farm, and a passion they shared for each other for more than 67 years. They had 6 children in 10 years: Gene, Marian, Donna, Audrey, Grace and Gwen. Avis was a busy woman. On the farm, she raised kids, grew a huge garden, kept chickens, sewed, cooked and ran meals out to the field. In her community, she joined friends volunteering at the rink, the church, the school, the Bateman Homemakers Club, the Chinook Library Board in Gravelbourg. In her house, she ran a tight ship, and under her tutelage, she taught practical skills such as: how to wiggle your ears, how to hold and pet a wild kitten into submission, and how, on the unexpectedly early arrival of dinner guests, to "Quick! Fry an onion! They’ll think supper’s almost ready.” Her intelligence, keen wit, and artistic mind deeply influenced those whom she lovingly nurtured: her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many a young person who crossed her threshold. Her many friends held her in high regard. Avis was a good listener, a careful observer of the wild and gentle prairie, a student of history, a gardener. She marvelled at all things beautiful, cleverly designed, and well written. She played. She read. She wrote poetry. She painted and drew and inspired budding young artists. She loved and was loved deeply. She is survived by her loving husband, Henry Frank; son, Gene (Gwen) Frank, Bateman, SK; daughter, Marian (Eric) Johnston, Saskatoon; daughter, Donna (Jim) Stockdale, La Ronge; daughter, Audrey (Randy) Hayward, Notre Dame, NB; daughter, Grace Frank (John Hampton), Saskatoon; daughter, K. Gwen Frank (Michael Dangelmaier) Calgary; her grandchildren: Adrian Frank, Toronto; Alison Frank, Calgary; Elsa Johnston (Chris Hambleton and daughters, Elizabeth and Caroline), Regina; Carolyn Johnston (David Lyons and sons Joshua, Oliver and Emmett), Ottawa; Suzanne Johnston (Steve Baliski), Saskatoon; Aaron Stockdale, La Ronge; Erica (Pastor Chad) Moir, Wadena, SK; Jonathan Stockdale (Julie Koutabi) and children Henry Stockdale and Angel Bessekrom, Saskatoon; Jesse Hayward, Saskatoon; Lucas Hayward, Montreal; Zachary Hayward (Amerens Van Der Heide), Moncton, NB; Will Hampton, Toronto; Ruth Hampton, Vancouver; Pete (Megan) Bruce and sons Jude and Kobe, Chatham, ON; her sisters-in-law Phyllis Hatlelid, Saskatoon, and Erna Hatlelid, Regina. Avis was dearly loved by her many Frank brothers and sisters-in-law, her nieces, nephews, and friends. She was predeceased by her sister, Shirley (Pat) Fitzpatrick, Wood Mountain; brothers, Dr. Thomas Hatlelid, Saskatoon, and Don Hatlelid, Yorkton. A Celebration of Avis’s life was held December 5, 2016 at the Lion’s Den in Gravelbourg, SK, led by Rev Jerry Borkowsky, former pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Gravelbourg. Words of Thanksgiving and Remembrance were presented by Avis’s children and also by her grandchildren, Carolyn Johnston, Aaron Stockdale and Will Hampton on behalf of all Avis’s grandchildren. Leanne Mann provided musical accompaniment for hymns, You are Mine, A New Commandment, and She Flies On and sang a special solo, A Love Never Known. Pastor Chad and Erica Moir read from scripture: Isaiah 40:6-8 and I Corinthians 13: 1-13. Recessional Music was a recording of the King’s Singers version of Billy Joel’s Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel). Pallbearers were her grandchildren. A reception, with lunch catered by the Gravelbourg Social Committee, was held at the Lion’s Den following the graveside service at the Bateman Cemetery. Avis’s family gratefully acknowledges and sincerely thanks the staff and volunteers of the Foyer d’Youville and Drs. Ramlakhan and Pillay for the loving care she received during her eight years of residency there. Memorial donations may be made to Foyer d’Youville Foundation, Box 810, Gravelbourg, SK, S0H 1X0. Thanks goes out to Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels who were in charge of arrangements for their kind and thoughtful service.