Charles E. Franklin

Charles Franklin Obituary (9/9/1941 – 3/2/2020)

Charles Edward Franklin was born September 9^th, 1941 in Vergas, Minnesota to Evelyn and Edward Franklin, who owned a slat fence manufacturing facility. Charles was baptized and confirmed at St John’s Lutheran Church in Vergas, Minnesota where his grandparents were founding members. Charles was a strong believer in Christ Jesus.

Charles attended grade school in Vergas and graduated from Frazee high school class of 1959. Charles received a bachelor of architecture degree in 1965 at North Dakota State University. Charles married Mary Ann Frankberg of Detroit Lakes on June 12^th, 1965. This union was blessed with two sons. After working in Milwaukee, Wisconsin two years they returned to Minnesota. Charles joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1967, he served 23 years 5 months and retired Staff Sergeant in 1992.

Charles worked with a number of architectural firms in the upper Midwest including Kegel Architects, Shultz & Associates Architects, Rutter & Associates, Foss Architects, and Twin City Construction. In 1993 Charles joined Adams Development in Fargo and worked until he retired in November 2019. Charles worked more than 55 years as an architect.

On August 14^th, 1993, Charles married Marilyn Marcotte of Bemidji, and they made their home in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Charles loved music, polka, and dancing. He taught himself to play the fiddle by ear, not by note. Charles sang lead with the Fargo Moorhead Barber Shop Chorus from 1992. He got to sing in international chorus competition in Toronto Canada in 2013 and Orlando Florida in 2018. In 2005 Charles & Marilyn began spending some winter months in South Texas. Charles enjoyed fiddle jams until hearing loss lead to his decline in music participation.

Charles managed the family farm located by Rose Lake and in the Klondike hills of Candor Township. Charles enjoyed repairing the perimeter fence so “the cows wouldn’t get out” and tapping trees for maple syrup in season. Charles found purpose and contentment whenever he spent time at the farm.

Charles was preceded in death by parents Ed and Evelyn Franklin, and sister, Karen Franklin.

Charles is survived by his wife, Marilyn, Moorhead, MN; children, Tom Franklin, Vergas, MN, Joe (Paulette) Franklin, West Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Paige, Jack, Blake and Ryan Franklin; brother, Ron (Linda) Franklin, Georgetown, TX; step-children, James (Cathy) Marcotte, Bemidji, MN, Nancy (Jeff) Williams, Owatonna, MN, Andrew Marcotte, Philadelphia, PA; step-grandchildren, Katrina, Maggie and Hunter Marcotte, Matthew and Nicholas Williams, and Jordan, Hailey and McKenzie Marcotte.

Wake: 4-6 pm, with prayer service at 5:30 pm, Sunday, March 8^th, Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, Minnesota

Funeral: 11 am Monday, March 9^th, St John’s Lutheran Church in Vergas, Minnesota

The family thanks the staff at Sanford Health and Roger Maris Cancer Center for their care and compassion.