Frank Tesarek Jr.

Frank Tesarek Jr. passed away on Sunday, May 18th at the Warroad Senior Living Center at the age of 86.

Frank was born on November 5, 1938, in Roseau, MN to parents Frank Tesarek Sr. and
Mary Killian Tesarek. He was raised in Beaver Township on the family farm with his
parents and family.
Frank attended Beaver School for grades 1 st through 8 th grade. He went to Roseau High
School in 9 th and 10 th grade, but he ended up quitting in 10 th grade to help on the family
farm.
As a young man, he had many jobs other than just working on the family farm. He
helped neighbors milk cows, he cut wood pulp in the winters with his father, worked on a
ranch helping with the cattle and hay for a while. He worked as a carpenter for a while;
he went out to North Dakota to work in the potato fields for a season. In 1958, Frank
rented 120 acres from a neighbor and tried his hand at farming. He worked all spring,
summer and fall and after all expenses he only made $90. That winter, he cut wood
pulp working for a couple of neighbors, they would deliver the logs to George Marvin,
who asked him to come work for him peeling logs in Warroad for 5 cents per log, which
he did from January until March 1959.
On March 18, 1959; Frank decided to voluntarily join the Army. He was in the Service
Battery, 2 nd Howitzer Division, 18 th Artillery Company B. He was stationed at Fort Lenard
Wood in Missouri for basic training. Then he went to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, where he
trained on the 8” Howitzers, where he learned to become a forward observer, whose job
it was to direct the shells to the target. He was then transferred to Fort Lewis in
Washington state, where he worked as a Senior Supply Clerk for the company. He was
honorably discharged from the Army on February 28, 1961; after spending almost 2
years in the Army.
In March 1961, Frank moved to Chicago, IL and worked for a former neighbor, Carroll
Hendrickson, at his gas station: Carroll’s Standard Gas Station in Highland Park, IL. He
worked there for 3 years. Then he went to work for Rosos Chemical Company in
Mundelein, IL, for 3 years driving a truck, making deliveries. Then he went to work for
International Harvester Company in Wheeling, IL where he worked for 4 years as a
mechanic. On April 1, 1970; Frank & Carroll Hendrickson purchased the Phillips 66
Gas Station and Car Wash in Highland Park, Il. Frank co-owned and operated it for 1
year. Then he went to work at Hershberger’s Implement Co in Mundelein, IL where he
worked for 3 years as a Foreman/Mechanic. Then Frank and his family made the move
from Illinois to Minnesota to farm. Frank started farming on April 1, 1974; they originally
had milk cows and farmed grain, they later sold the cows and then raised pigs along
with the grain farming. They later purchased more land and did exclusively grain
farming until April 1996. Frank always had a part-time job; he worked for the MN DNR
working at Hayes Lake State Park for 18 years during the summers; maintaining the
grounds and maintenance work. In the winters, he would help maintain the snowmobile

trails. In April 1996; he started at Marvin Windows where he ran a shaping machine
and salvage saw. He retired from Marvin Windows after 6 years in May 2002.
Frank married his high school sweetheart Sylvia Dybedahl on August 6, 1961at Bethel
Mission Covenant Church in Falun, MN. They lived in the Chicago, Il area. They had a
daughter, LoriAnn and a son, Adam.
Frank served on the Mickinock Township board for 25 years and on the Salol Elevator
Board for 8 years. Frank was a member of Bethel Covenant Church for many years, he
also attended Roseau Community Church for a few years until it was too hard to get
around and then they watched church services weekly on tv.
Frank’s passion was farming and deer hunting. When deer hunting came along, work
was done until after deer season. He shot many big bucks over the years, deer season
was an enjoyable time for him, with hunting and visiting with family and friends. Frank
also enjoyed summer and winter fishing and hunting ruffled grouse and geese. In his
youth, Frank enjoyed trapping fox and mink.
Frank was a very caring husband and an amazing father; Frank & Sylvia were
inseparable. He was always very loving, kind and considerate; he would always give a
helping hand, he was always helping his children out on their projects. He was a good-
natured man, who always had a good story to tell, and he loved to tease and joke
around. When asked, he would always share his good advice. He loved spending time
with his children and grandchildren.
Frank is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sylvia; 2 children, Loriann (Tim Viken)
Olson; Adam (Karla) Tesarek. 4 grandchildren, Ryan Olson, Megan (Gage Korpi)
Olson, Andrew Tesarek, Ethan Tesarek. Siblings: William Tesarek, Blanche Otto, Sister-
in-law Maria Killian, Sister-in-law Gloria Tesarek, Sister-in-law Ruby Dybedahl; life-long
friend Eugene Krzoska and several nieces and nephews and friends.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents; Frank Sr and Mary (Killian) Tesarek,
Father-in-law Manford Dybedahl, Mother-in-law Helen Dybedahl Topolski, Step Father-
in-law John Topolski, Brother Fredrick Killian, Sister Mary Otto, Brother-in-law Floyd
Otto, Brother Anton Tesarek, Sister-in-law Adelle Tesarek, Brother-in-law Jim Otto;
Brothers-in-law Maynard, Milo, Arvey, Leroy & Gary Dybedahl; Sisters-in-law Eileen,
Doris, Bernice & Kathy Dybedahl; and several nieces and nephews and friends.
He will be deeply missed by all that knew him. 

A memorial service will be held at the Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau on Tuesday, May 27th at 11AM with a visitation one hour prior to the service, interment at Beaver Cemetery.

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