Francis “Frannie” M. Allen

Francis Merle Frannie Allen, was born September 30, 1928 in Fargo, ND to Merle and Fayette Rice Allen and lived 86 wonderful years. He died after a brief illness at his rural Moorhead home on Saturday June 6, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.

He attended Clearview School and later Moorhead State College Campus High School in Moorhead, graduating in 1946.

Frannie married Maxine Hanson September 7, 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead. He and Maxine raised their five children, Candace, Cindy, Sheila, Guy and Paula in the south Moorhead area.

Frannie held a number of occupations in his early years, including road construction, school bus driver, assistant electrician, photographer and other jobs, which provided a solid foundation for his decades-long farming career, from which he retired in 1985.

He was involved with his community, serving on the Clearview School Board of Directors. He was also a member of the Fargo Elks, Eagles, and Masons.

Frannie was a non-conformist and independent thinker with many interests, and he loved to try new things. At just 13 years of age he had his own motorcycle, a 1930’s Harley 74. An experienced pilot, Frannie owned various airplanes and loved flying. He was known to experiment with his own home brew, and sometimes grew things you could describe as “out of the ordinary” in his garden. His inquisitive mind relished new discoveries.

Frannie loved to spend time with his family at the lake. Many fun memories of board games, card games, cribbage and pot luck lunches on Sundays will be forever cherished.

This unique man was dearly loved, and has left lasting memories and a legacy of values that includes independence, decisiveness, and loyalty to family.

Frannie is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maxine, whom he called “the best wife ever;” children: Candace Allen, Cindy Jeff Nyquist Kloeckner, and Paula Dean Jacobsen, all of Moorhead; Sheila Bruce Klosterman, Fargo; Guy Allen, Arlington, Texas; grandchildren: Andy Melissa Shellito, Sarah Shellito, Matt Barb Kloeckner, Ryan Molly Kloeckner, Megan Havi Amedi Robley, Todd Rose Crutcher Robley, Grant and Zach Klosterman, Rachel Derek Neu Jacobsen, Samantha Ben Rage, and Parker Jacobsen; five great-grandchildren and his siblings, Robert Allen, Laura Barney Dickhaus, and Lois Hanson, all Moorhead.

He was preceded in death by his parents Merle and Fayette, and sister-in-law Roberta Allen.

Memorial Gathering: Wednesday, June 10, 2015, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.

Memorial Service: Thursday, June 11, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.