Frances Ann Block

Frances Ann Block, age 82 of Lodgepole, Nebraska passed peacefully into the loving arms of our Lord on Saturday, December 27, 2014, in her home surrounded by her family after a heroic battle with cancer.

Memorial services for Frances Ann Block will be held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Lodgepole, Nebraska on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 10:30 am. There will be no visitation prior to the service. A reception at the church will follow the service. Graveside services will follow at a later date at Pleasant View Cemetery north of Lodgepole.

Memorials can be sent to Lodgepole Fire Department, c/o The Village of Lodgepole, P.O. Box 266, Lodgepole, NE 69149, or to Pleasant View Cemetery, c/o Amy Markel, 2849 Co Rd 149, Lodgepole, NE 69149.

Frances was born near New Castle, Wyoming in the Black Hills on April 14, 1932, to Patrick and Evelyn Brennan. She was baptized at Corpus Christi Church in New Castle on April 21, 1932. Frances, or Francy as she was affectionately called spent much of her childhood on a working cattle ranch in the Sarpy Basin near Hardin, Montana. The ranch was started by her grandfather, Charles Dyckman, after he moved his family from Aurora, Illinois to round up horses for the US Military in the early 1900s.

Frances often told her children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren stories about she and her sisters growing up on the ranch as cowgirls who learned to rope and ride. Frances eventually became Big Horn County Rodeo Queen as a teen. She also learned to hunt and fish from her father Pat. Shooting her bow, and fishing for trout in the Black Hills and Montana streams made treasured family memories. Fran's stories also included many memorable (some mischievous and daring) moments with her three sisters, Margaret, Patsy, and Nancy Lee. One of her favorite elaborations was concocted by her father to keep his the kids from wondering off in the hills at night, was a story about the elusive side-hill gouger that walked the hills at night. None of us have seen this mysterious creature...yet. Included in her family history are encounters with famous western characters the likes of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.

Fran attended Hardin High School in Hardin, Montana, graduating in 1950. From there she attended the Gale Institute in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota, graduating in 1952. Fran then got a job with Capitol Airlines, moving to Washington DC, then on to Chicago to work at Midway Airport. Fran eventually went back to Hardin and worked for Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator.

On July 3, 1959, Fran married Loren Block in the Lutheran church just north of the home in Lodgepole that they would eventually spend the rest of their lives together. It was here that they raised their three children, Reid, Ryan and Rena. Fran was an active supporter of Lodgepole sports teams. When her own children were no longer competing she followed sporting events that involved her grandchildren and the children of her nieces and nephews.

Fran's first several years of life in Lodgepole also included being a housewife. When her children were old enough. Fran attended beauty school, with her friend Earlene, in Sidney, Nebraska. Fran eventually become employed as a beautician at the Cinderella Beauty Shop in Lodgepole, for a little over five years. After her hairdressing career, Fran changed jobs once again and became a bank teller for the First State Band in Lodgepole. She worked there till her retirement in her mid 60s.

Fran was sure to share her love for the Black Hills with her children. A very important tradition of hers and her sisters. Fran loved trips to the hills. Packing up the car with Loren and the kids in the summer and meeting family at the cabin was something everyone looked forward to doing together. Many wonderful memories are recalled of our time in the valley by Deerfield Lake near Hill City. Fran especially enjoyed trips later in life with her beloved sister Nancy Lee. They would often meet in the Hills with their sister Patsy who came down from Hardin. They would spend weekends together pulling slots at Deadwood and traveling the back roads reliving memories in the beautiful, mystical hills. The times that Fran considered most important were those times with family.

Fran was generous to a fault, especially with her heart. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren, as well as her nieces and nephews. To the end she was always concerned about everyone else more than herself. Fran continued to have a wonderful sense of humor and was mischievous right up to the end. One day someone told her they had been so happy to meet her and had heard so much about some of her "adventures". Without missing a beat Fran turned around and walked out of the room saying, "Well that must have taken all day!" Fran also had ideas on how to take care of the prairie dog population along highway 30 west of Lodgepole. Her 'colorful' thoughts were often expressed during trips to and from her doctor appointments.

Fran is survived by her three children, Reid Block and his wife Carla of Alliance, Nebraska, Ryan Block and his wife Diane of Lodgepole, and Rena Tomaszewski and her husband Richard of Weyauwega, Wisconsin. Six grandchildren, Lyndsey and Lauren (Reid), Brennan and Kirstin (Ryan), and Taylor and Teal (Rena). One sibling, Nancy Lee (Brennan) Wolff of Sidney, Nebraska. One brother in law, Myron Block of Somerset, Kentucky. 15 nieces and nephews and their children and many wonderful friends that continued to come into her life of adventures.

Fran is predeceased by her parents Patrick Allen Brennan and Evelyn May (Dyckman) Brennan, her husband Loren Herman Block, two sisters Margaret (Brennan) Pratt and Patricia (Brennan) Collier, and other dear friends from her past.

Thank you to family and friends for your prayers, positive thoughts and support through out Fran's trials. Thank you for cards and letters that she so enjoyed receiving, and for your assistance in her care.

Thank you to the staff at the Dorwart Cancer Care Center in Sidney for your professional care and your attention to Fran's comfort.

Thank you to the staff of Home Health Care of Sidney Regional Medical Center. Your patience and kindness to Fran and her family receives our heartfelt gratitude.

Thank you also to very special friends Myrna and Don Mueller for becoming such a very important part of Fran's last blessed days here on earth.

In the hills of Montana I lived as a child,
In the home that my grandparents knew.
Any my memories take me to the mountains I love,
and the clear sky of deep azure blue.

And the hills of the Big Sky Country are calling to me.
And the rivers they whisper their welcome, "Come back to the valley so Free."
To the hills of the Big Sky Country my memories fly.
And I long to go back to the days of my childhood and my home in Big Sky.