Mary Jane Frank, 85, entered into heaven peacefully on March 18, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 28, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be at St. Aloysius Cemetery in Olivia. Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 27, with a 2:30 p.m. rosary service at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: St. Mary’s Preservation Association, Attn.: Mary Jane Frank Memorial, C/O Treasurer, 26507 780th Avenue, Renville, MN 56284.
Mary Jane was the daughter of Edward F. and Hattie (Zetah) Herdina, and was born on April 8, 1936, at their rural home in Henryville Township near Olivia. She attended Country School District 137 through the 8th grade, and graduated from Olivia High School in 1953. Mary Jane married Henry James Frank on August 21, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bechyn. They made their home on a farm in Henryville Township near Morton, where they lived for 26 years raising crops and livestock. They were blessed with seven children, who helped on the farm and kept their lives very busy. She was a wonderful, kind, generous, and prayerful woman who touched the lives of many during her lifetime. As a member of St. Mary’s, Mary Jane taught religion classes and held several offices in the Council of Catholic Women including President, Vice-President, and Historian. Mary Jane and Henry retired to their beautiful home on Clearwater Lake near Brainerd in 1980, where they spent the next 24 years making many memories with family, friends, and neighbors. They also enjoyed traveling throughout the country. In 2004, Mary Jane and Henry made their home in Willmar where they spent their final years.
Mary Jane cherished her Catholic faith and spent time praying, reading, and sharing her faith with others. She had a great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. A highlight of her life was spending World Youth Day in Denver where she saw Pope Saint John Paul II. She was a wonderful hostess and enjoyed entertaining family and friends who would visit from all over the country. There was always a hot, delicious meal and a warm bed for all. She enjoyed flower gardening, photography, scrapbooking, playing cards and dice games, sewing, traveling, and craft group.
Mary Jane is survived by her seven children, Ramona (Dan) Scarlett of Montgomery, Texas, Theodore (Christine) Frank of Lino Lakes, Cletus (Deborah) Frank of Willmar, Timothy Frank of St. Bonifacius, Laurie (Brian) Miller of Lino Lakes, Gary (Lynn) Frank of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Anne Frank of Mission Viejo, Calif.; 19 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and siblings, Richard, Jack, Audrey, Stan, Lowell, Larry, Gloria, Edward, Sylvia, Gayle, and Geraldine.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; parents, Edward and Hattie Herdina; sister Ursula Hennen, brother Rodney Herdina, brother-in-law LeRoy Goelz, and sister-in-law Ann Herdina.
A heartfelt Thank You to the Compassionate Cottage in Willmar for all the love, attention, and excellent care given to our mother over the years and especially during her last few weeks.
Blessed be her memory.