Frances R. Brandli

A Funeral Service for Frances Brandli of Warroad, MN will be held on Thursday. August 20, 2015 at 11:00AM at Woodland Bible Church in Warroad, MN. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2015 from 5-7PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Warroad, MN with a prayer service at 7:00PM. Interment will be held at America Cemetery in Warroad, MN.

Frances “Fran” Ramona Brandli, age 88 of Warroad, MN, died peacefully on August 11, 2015 at her home on the farm in Warroad.   Fran was born on December 23, 1926 in Salmon, Idaho.  She grew up on a ranch on Iron Creek along with her three brothers and three sisters until 1937, when the family moved to Grants Pass, OR.  She graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1945.  She went on to college at the Univ. of Oregon, Eugene and graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education and Health in 1953.  Fran then taught at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay, OR from 1953-1958.  It was there that she met Will Brandli from Warroad, MN who spent winters working in Coos Bay while living with one of his older sisters.  Fran and Will were married October 26, 1958 in Grants Pass, OR.  They moved to his farm south of Warroad, MN.

Fran also taught phy-ed and health for a few years in Williams, MN and then for several years in International Falls, MN.  Fran and Will had two children: Bret in 1962 and Jan in 1964.  Fran was very active in the Roseau County 4-H program, serving as 4-H club leader and leading the Roseau County 4-H Horse Program for many years.  She also served on the State 4-H Horse Committee in St. Paul, MN, and traveled out of state on several 4-H leadership trips.

Besides 4-H, Fran loved any and all outdoor activities: camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing were some of her favorites.  However, horses were the passion of her entire life.  She loved everything and anything that had to do with horses.  She bred, raised, trained and taught others about horses.  But her favorite thing was to haul horses out west to ride and camp in the mountains.  Fran was still riding and training horses well into her 80’s.  Fran was well known for her cooking and baking abilities, especially her pies, doughnuts and homemade fresh buns.  She always had a large, beautiful vegetable garden and she often shared her garden produce with family, neighbors, friends and the elderly.  Fran also went back to teaching in the 1990’s at the Warroad High School pool. 

Besides her husband, Will and two kids, Bret and Jan; her seven grandkids were the loves of her life.  She loved spending time with each and every one of them, and attending all of their events and activities.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Rudy Paul Hussey and Eugene Hussey; two sisters, Marie Matz and Phyllis Hurst.  She is survived by her husband, Will Brandli of Warroad; children, Bret (Shelli) Brandli of Rockerville, SD and Jan (Marc) Stevens of Montevideo, MN; seven grandchildren, Kristin (Tony) Printon, Jessica Brandli, Kodi Nelson, Ian Nelson, Megan Stevens, Darin Stevens and Rachel Stevens; great-grandchild, Tucker Nelson; brother, Charles of Wenatchee, WA; sister, Rosanna Evarts of Salmon, ID; and 14 nieces and nephews.  Fran will be very deeply missed by all her family, friends, and all who had the priviledge of knowing her.

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