From Larimer County, Colorado:
Donald Roy Franks
Published 4-30-2005
Donald Roy Franks was born Nov. 3, 1923, in Chicago, Ill. His early education took him through college at the University of Illinois and from there he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. His service was highlighted by his membership in an elite crew that piloted “lighter-than-air ships” (blimps) which plied the airways between the United States and northern Africa.
While on active duty in the Navy, he met and married Helen Merrill, who was an aerographer’s mate with the U.S. Navy Waves. Don and Helen recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Places of the family’s primary residence throughout the years included Denver and Greeley, Colorado and San Angelo, Texas.
While helping to raise a lively family of three children, Don completed his education at the University of Denver, graduating with a degree in business administration, finance and engineering. Education never really ended for Don, as he continued post-graduate studies at UNC and CU in Colorado. He taught courses in insurance law at UNC. Even after retirement, his studies continued, as he audited courses at San Angelo State University in Russian History, linguistics and literature.
His working years included many and varied positions in the business world, most principally as president and managing officer for Franks & Scott Insurance Co. in Greeley. After his move to San Angelo he served as credit manager for the Hemphill Wells department store and most recently as the Executive Director for Tom Green County Soil Conservation Corps.
Life was varied and interesting for Don, taking him through memberships in many groups and organizations and traveling throughout the world. His active church affiliation was with Trinity Episcopal Church in Greeley and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in San Angelo. He was a life member of Boy Scouts of America, a Sea Scout and recipient of the Eagle Scout Award in 1939. Travel took him and Helen to Greece, Mexico, Russia, Australia and all four corners of the USA. He served in many offices and capacities with the Masonic lodges where he lived.
Books, reading and study were consummate passions of Don’s and his library is vast and eclectic. Reading led him to writing, and in 1991 he completed and self-published “A Little Onward, A Philatelic Autobiography.” This is an interesting and absorbing narrative about his family, illustrated and annotated with postage stamps, using the color and charm of the stamps to trace the culture and history of his lifetime.
Most prominent among all his avocations were as a philatelist and numismatist. Stamp shows, coin shops and visits with friends and colleagues kept his collections growing. His travels allowed him to enhance his displays, picking up coins and stamps all over the world.
Survivors include his wife, Helen M. Franks of San Angelo; daughter and son-in-law Penny and Jay Roberts and grand-daughter Wendy Roberts of Estes Park; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Paula Franks of Greeley, and grand-son Peter Franks of Chicago; daughter Elaine Davis, grand-daughter Daisy Davis and grand-son Jay Z. Davis of Estes Park.
Memorial contributions in Don’s memory may be made to the church or charity of one’s choice.
William E. Burgess
William E. “Bill” Burgess, 81, of Estes Park, died April 29, 2005, at the Estes Park Medical Center from Multiple Myeloma. He was born Oct. 14, 1923 in Itasca, Texas to William E. Burgess and Thelma (Porter) Burgess.
Bill graduated from Estes Park High School in 1941. He attended the University of Colorado until he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. Shortly after the end of World War II in 1946, he was honorably discharged and then resumed his education at the University of Denver. Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and was a member of the first graduating class of the School of Hotel & Restaurant Management in 1949. Bill married Harriet Bittner on Sept. 11, 1950, and they lived in Roswell, N. M. for six years where he was the Commissary Officer at the New Mexico Military Institute. He then returned to Estes Park to help run the Old Plantation Restaurant, which was family owned from 1931 to 1992. During the winter months when the restaurant was closed, Bill enjoyed doing carpentry work. He built his own home and was one of the developers of the Lone Pine subdivision. He served in the Air Force Civil Air Patrol for seven years and was a Larimer County Sheriff’s Reserve Officer for 17 years.
Bill was a member of the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies where he served as both an Elder and a Deacon. He was a member of the Estes Park Sanitation Board, the Estes Park School Board, KBB, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and the Senior Center. He was a former Rotarian and a founder and charter board member of the Larimer County Vocational Technical School. Bill loved working in his yard, traveling, going to museums, watching Jeopardy, eating lunch at the Senior Center, and visiting with people.
Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Harriet; a son and his wife, William E. III and Renee Burgess of Durango, Colo.; two daughters, Deborah Richardson of Estes Park and Dr. Virginia Burgess of Casa Grande, Ariz.; four grandchildren: William E. Burgess IV of Cortez, Colo., Sarah Hanna of Aztec, N. M., Brandon Richardson of Golden, Colo. and Katelyn Burgess of Salt Lake City, Utah; and one great grandson, Dylan Hanna of Aztec, N. M. He is also survived by two sister-in-laws, Janet Burgess of Estes Park and Ruth Louth of San Mateo, Calif.; and three nieces, Sylvia Scott of Sacramento, Calif., Elizabeth Eggert of Centennial, Colo., and Nancy Burgess of West Hollywood, Calif.; and three nephews, Tom Shaw of Danville, Calif., James Shaw of Shingle Springs, Calif., and David Shaw of Encinitas, Calif. He was preceded in death by his brother, Bob, his father, mother, and stepfather, C. Warren Chapman.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 5, at 10 a.m. at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America (Longs Peak Council) or the American Cancer Society, in care of Allnutt Estes Park Chapel, 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado, 80517. Please visit www.allnutt.com to view the obituary and sign the online guest book.
Beatrice Elizabeth Hanson
Beatrice Elizabeth (Lemon) Hanson, 90, of Greeley and Estes Park, died April 16, 2005, at Bonell Good Samaritan Center in Greeley.
She was born July 5, 1914, in Maryville, Mo., to Allen and Elizabeth (Stelter) Lemon. She attended schools and graduated from high school in Maryville. Bea attended Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College where she received her bachelor degree in business in 1936. She received her masters in teaching at Teachers’ College, Columbia University in New York City. This is also where she met her future husband, Kenneth J. Hansen of Seattle, Wash. They were married in Chicago on June 17, 1943.
The moved to Greeley in 1947 where Dr. Hansen chaired the Department of Business Education at Colorado State College of Education, now the University of Northern Colorado. After her husband’s death in 1963, Bea was appointed to the secretarial studies area of the same department where she taught until her retirement in 1979. During this period, she also served on the editorial staff for the McGraw Hill Book Company.
During her life, Bea traveled in all 50 states, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and several Asian countries. She spent her summers at the home she and her husband built in Estes Park in the 1950s.
She was a 50-year member of First Congregational Church in Greeley and a member of the American Association of University Women, American Business Women’s Association, National Business Education Association, UNC Faculty Dames, UNC Emeritus Faculty, Colorado Business Education Association, Mountain Plains Business Educators, Delta Pi Epsilon (graduate honor society), Pi Omega (honorary business fraternity), and the Greeley Philharmonic Guild.
Survivors include two cousins, Robert A. Stelter of Hopkins, Mo., and James W. Holt of Maryville.
Services will be held in June in Greeley at a date and time announced later. Memorial gifts may be made to a charity of the giver’s choice in care of Allnutt Macy Chapel, 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and sign the guest book at www.allnutt.com.
Marion E. Klein
Marion E. Klein, 75, of Estes Park and El Mirage, Ariz., died March 3, 2005, at the Caring Hearts Senior Care in Surprise, Ariz. He was born Oct. 27, 1929, in Berthoud, Colo., to Reinhardt and Amalia (Ostermiller) Klein. He married Joyce Berner on May 29, 1952 in Fort Morgan, Colo.
He served in the United States Navy in Korea.
He was a teacher in the Snyder, Colorado Schools, the Superintendent of Schools in Raymer, Colorado, Principal of the junior and senior high school in Platteville, Colorado and Estes Park. He was a past partner of Range Realty in Estes Park and a participating broker. He was the past director of the Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) in Estes Park. He was also a National Park Service seasonal employee.
He was employed with the Agency for International Development and was the Regional Director for Education Region II in Vietnam. He was a past member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Ivan and Victor and sister, Hazel Schevemann. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Klein, son Mark Klein of Boulder, and brother Louis Klein of Greeley.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 14, at 1 p.m. at the Allnutt Estes Park Chapel. The Rev. Rex Roth will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to EPMCF to benefit Oncology in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517.
Minerva Eloise Bailey
Minerva Eloise (Piltingsrud) Bailey, 100, died Nov. 4, 2006, at the Prospect Park Living Center. She was born on the family farm Aug. 27, 1906 to Peter and Elise (Thorsrud) Piltingsrud.
Minerva was married to Carl C. Bailey Sept. 30, 1937, at Fort Dodge, Iowa and the couple then moved to Carl’s residence in Estes Park. Minerva has always been a proud member of the Estes Park community, serving with many civic organizations. Minerva and Carl left Estes Park temporarily during the WWII years to work in the defense industry. After WWII, they returned to Estes and Minerva supported Carl as the first “Office Manager” for the Town of Estes Park Municipal Light and Power. As with the other wives of the town, her role was essential. She is also remembered as an avid golfer, lover of the outdoor life, counselor, and dedicated Christian.
Her church, the Community Church of the Rockies, was vital to her life and she nurtured it with her participation.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Harold Piltingsrud of Callender, Iowa, Rudolph Piltingsrud of New Richland, Minn. and Howard Piltingsrud of Gowrie, Iowa; six sisters, Alma, Myrtle, and Doris, all of Callender, Lydia Specht, Gladys Breffle,and Hazel Breffle, all of Denver.
Survivors include her son, Gordon Bailey of Estes Park; Vera Durkovic of Estes Park; sister-in-law Margaret Piltingsrud of Gowrie, Iowa; five grandchildren, Bruce, Ron, Eric, John, and Tanya; five nieces, Janet Mulhal of Glenwood Springs, Nancy Zambo of Denver, Janiece Piltingsrud of Coralville, Iowa, Sonja Bloomquist of Fort Dodge, and Priscilla Jerome of Bridgeport, Texas; three nephews, Dallas Breffle of Denver, Douglas Piltingsrud of Pine Island, Minn., and Paul Piltingsrud of Chandler, Ariz.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Minerva Eloise Bailey will be held at the Community Church of the Rockies, Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. There will be a reception following in the fellowship hall to share memories of Minerva.
John M. Carmack
John M. Carmack, 82, of Estes Park, died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006. John Mitchell Carmack was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Rocky Ford, Colo. to W. Earl Carmack and Eva Jeanne Jeffery.
He was a resident of Estes Park since 1936 and was a graduate of the Estes Park High School. He married Jo Baird on Oct. 14, 1951, at the Community Church in Estes Park. John worked with his father in the Park Service when Rocky Mountain National Park had its own phone service. He later was employed by Mountain Bell working his way to management. He is a past member of the American Legion, and The Estes Park Rotary Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife Jo Carmack; his son Rick and his wife Cathy Carmack and grandchildren; Jason, Rob, Benjamin and Jennifer and great-grandson, Nicholas of Fort Collins; daughter, Peggy and her husband Merrill Dinke and grandchildren; Michele and Shelley and great-grandchildren Kailee and Jaden of Fort Collins; sister, Eleanor C. Rogers of Fort Collins.
Please visit www.allnutt.com to view John’s online obituary, sign the family guest book and send condolences. Memorial donations can be made to your favorite charity in memory of John.
