Frances Stanley
Frances Margaret Stan-
ley, Minot, passed away
on Wednesday, March 2,
2016, surrounded by her
family, in a Minot hospi-
tal.
Frances was born Dec.
22, 1929, in Bottineau, to
Ole and Emma (Erickson)
Sather. The youngest of
nine children, she was
raised and attended
school in Bottineau. Upon
graduation from Bottineau
High School in 1948, Fran
continued her education
at the North Dakota State
School of Forestry where
she received specialized
training in secretarial stu-
dies. She was employed at
the ND State School of
Forestry as the secretary
to the Forestry president
prior to moving to Willis-
ton where she worked at
KEYZ radio station.
Frances married Rich-
ard “Buck” Stanley Nov.
27, 1953, in Bottineau.
They made their home in
Williston where they were
partners in the ownership
and operation of a flower
shop. While living in
Williston, they were
blessed with three chil-
dren. The family moved
to Minot in 1969. Fran
was employed by Minot
Public Schools as a secre-
tary at Longfellow Ele-
mentary from 1970 until
1991 when she retired.
Frances was a member
of Our Lady of Grace
Catholic Church and a
former member of Little
Flower Catholic Church.
She was a member of the
Sons of Norway and the
Women of the Moose.
Fran enjoyed crocheting,
embroidery, ceramics and
attending a variety of
events with Buck. She
especially loved spending
time with her siblings,
children and grandchil-
dren at their Lake Meti-
goshe cabin.
Frances’ loving family
includes: her husband of
62 years, Richard; chil-
dren, Annette (Phil)
Stach, David (Melissa)
Stanley and Michelle
(William Jr.) Bliven, all of
Minot; grandchildren,
Kristen, Alicia, Aaron,
Taylor, Jacques, Jake, Em-
malee and Blaise; sister-
in-law, Mildred Sather of
Minot; and numerous
nieces, nephews and
cousins.
Fran will be remem-
bered by family and
friends as compassionate
and caring to everyone.
Frances was preceded
in death by: her parents;
and siblings, Hilda Bys-
trom, Ed Sather, Caroline
Sehn, Ole Sather, Olga
McLain, Art Sather, Alice
Albrighton and Mabel
Johnson.
Mass of Christian Buri-
al: 10:30 a.m. Monday,
March 7, in Our Lady of
Grace Catholic Church,
Minot.
Vigil Prayer Service: 7
p.m. Sunday, March 6, in
Thomas Family Funeral
Home Chapel.
Interment: Sunset Me-
morial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: noon to 4
p.m. Sunday in Thomas
Family Funeral Home,
Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of
flowers and plants,
memorials are preferred
to the family for charit-
able designation.
Those wishing to sign
the online memorial regis-
ter or share memories and
condolences are invited to
use the expression of
sympathy section at