Obituary of Herman Frantzen
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Herman Frantzen. He passed away from kidney and heart failure in Victoria, British Columbia, November 23, 2020 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Ken and Lorelee Bergeron. He was surrounded by his three daughters, who held his hands as he breathed his last.
Herman was born on February 19, 1935 in Monitor, Alberta to two Norwegian immigrants: Olaf and Ingeborg Frantzen. Herman’s early life was marked by a lot of loss: his mother died when he was two; he lost his uncle Halvor at age seven; at age fifteen, he lost his beloved older brother Floyd in a devastating house fire . After his brother passed, his father said words that reverberated with Herman for the rest of his life: “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” These words came back to Herman, when at age twenty four, he lost his father, Olaf.
These tragedies were set against the hardscrabble backdrop of the 1930’s and 1940’s and Herman would often say of his family, “we were the poorest among the poor.” There were no safety nets when his mother passed away: Herman’s youngest brother, two month old Ken, was sent away to be raised in another loving household (happily the siblings were reunited later). A few amazing things happened to offset the bleakness. When Dad was young his father moved from southern Alberta to a homestead in northern Alberta around the Hythe, Valhalla area, where the family was welcomed and nurtured by the Norwegian immigrant community that had settled there. The Royal Banner School he attended gave him lifelong deep bonds of friendship. The most amazing blessing was a loving Godly father who wore out the floorboards praying for his children. Those prayers resulted in direct heavenly intervention, such as when Herman and his older sister Thea were playing near a dangerous open pit and were stopped because they both saw an interceding angel. This was an encounter they never forgot and that went on to impact both of their spiritual lives.
Herman had only a grade seven education, but had an innate ability to fix anything. He was an inveterate tinkerer whether it be his cars or his home appliances. His children never saw a repairman in their house. His early career was spent working on a seismic crew and those were memorable years. One morning in the winter, it was so cold the Nodwell machines wouldn’t start. He was able to get one going by rigging up an extension pipe on the exhaust, which directed heat onto the other engines. One by one he got all the machines started. His mechanical ingenuity was well appreciated by the seismic crew. In his twenties he bought an International CAT and was employed clearing land around Hythe and Valhalla. When he sold the CAT business he moved to Dawson Creek B.C, where he and his wife resided most of their lives. He worked on many different manual labour jobs until he went to Dawson Creek Vocational School in 1972 and got his welding ticket. That education led him to many interesting jobs, from working on barges in Fort Nelson to building a sawmill in Chetwynd. These jobs took him from home so he happily accepted a job working for his brother-in-law, Kenneth Torgerson and his partner, Jack McConnell at their trucking company, Tormac Transport. He worked there for many years while the company was in business. He spent the last years of his working life as a custodian for the Dawson Creek School District.
Dad was a man defined by his powerful faith and his love of family. His Bible was his constant companion. Despite his early years of tragic loss he counted himself blessed. He regarded as his biggest blessing his marriage to Christine Torgerson on November 6, 1957. He was immediately enveloped by the huge loving clan of Torgersons. They were married for almost fifty years and had three girls. He was a deeply loyal husband and father. He loved just hanging out with his wife and girls. In the evenings, Dad would get a cookie and coffee and just sit with us and tell stories of his life interspersed with bible verses. He and mom would love to get their bibles open and just discuss scripture. Both were strong minded so it was fun to watch mom occasionally out talk and out reason Dad. The bible was the living word in our family. Our Dad was a fortress of unconditional love. He was a passionate advocate for each of his girls; and later that loving advocacy extended also to his nine grandchildren. Cancer took his wife, Christine, thirteen years ago – a blow he never really recovered from. After Christine died he was comforted by still having his older sister, Thea and her family living in Dawson Creek along with other good friends and his in-laws, Ken and Mabel Torgerson. He was also deeply involved in his church, Bethel Pentecostal and his solo missionary endeavors. Every person who had the chance to talk to Herman heard the gospel. Herman not only was a constant visitor to his friends and family, he also had a heart for the shut in. Every friend in a hospital or a senior’s home was visited. He routinely travelled to his girls’ homes, where each of his daughters was privileged to host Dad for many months. When his beloved sister Thea died, this stalwart Peace River man chose to move to the balmy climate of Victoria. He lived the last four and a half years with his daughter, Lorelee and her family.
One of Herman’s favourite hymns was,“What Will I Leave Behind”. Along with a reservoir of love, he leaves behind to mourn, his daughters: Melody Harper (Trevor), Janice Lutsenko (Peter); Lorelee Bergeron (Kenny); grandchildren: Kirsten Gurney (Paul); Meredith Dennar (Oge); Riordyn Harper; Lara Lutsenko; Amalea Dueck (Mark); Alexandre Lutsenko (Melissa); Cody Bergeron, Isaiah Bergeron (Stephanie) and Diana Bergeron and seven great grandchildren; Brothers-in-law: Torger (Mary) Torgerson; Kenneth (Mabel) Torgerson; Colin Griffith; Sisters-in-law: Carolyn (Dan) Robinson and Velma Ness. Herman was predeceased by his parents, Olaf and Ingeborg Frantzen; wife, Christine Frantzen; brothers, Floyd Frantzen, Ken Ness and sister, Thea Christensen; brother-in-laws: Henry Christensen, and Jack Hillis; sisters-in-law: Hazel Torgerson, Elsie Hillis, Valerie Griffith.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions we are unable to honour our dad with the traditional service. Our plans are to have a celebration of life once the restrictions are lifted. For family and friends so wishing, donations in Herman’s memory may be made to the Canadian Red Cross, Dawson Creek Office, 3rd Floor, 11100 13th Avenue, Dawson Creek & District Hospital, Dawson Creek BC, V1G 3W8 or to Bethel Church of Dawson Creek,
11501 17th St., Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4S7
Very respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Herman
Frantzen 1935 2020..
reynars funeral home & crematorium
Death notice for the town of: Dawson, Province: Colombie britanique