Francis Lelin "Frank" Rawson

God Be with You till We Meet Again Francis Lelin (Frank) Rawson, son of Perry and Retta Rawson, passed away on 16 March 2024. He was 82 years of age. Frank was born on April 17th, 1941, in Plano, Idaho. His parents Retta and Perry moved to Butte, Mt with all his siblings when he was a young boy where his father started working in the local Butte mines. Frank attended the old original Blaine Elementary School and later Butte High School. After graduating from Butte High School Frank enlisted in the United States Air Force and learned his craft of being an electrician. The Air Force took him to many places, and Alaska was one of them. He loved Alaska, even the desolate remote assignments he endured on almost abandoned radar sites. Frank married Lois Helen (Leonard) on October 26th, 1963, they raised one son and two daughters. They lived in Walkerville most of their married lives next to the makeshift ice skating rink on the 500 block of Daly Street. During their stay in Walkerville, Frank volunteered for the Walkerville Volunteer Fire Department. He was later elected Fire Chief by his peers and was well admired and liked. Later Frank also was elected a Walkerville City Alderman. He was quoted by the Montana Standard once of saying, “If the cattle are in your property, then place them in your freezers.” This comment was a joke, picked up by a reporter during a Walkerville City Hall meeting where local Cattle were coming into town and entering residential properties. Some readers didn’t think the comment was funny at all. After Franks military service, he was hired by Sears and Roebuck of Butte and was employed by Sears for 38 years. When friends or family needed assistance with their household appliances, he was there to fix it, not replace parts. He was a service technician to the letter. Frank was always lending a helping hand, he was no homemaker by any means, but his expertise came from everyday common sense, electricity, mechanical appliances and serving the Lord. In the mid 1980’s Frank was re-introduced to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father again; he rekindled his childhood religious beliefs and behaviors by serving God with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Frank was called to many positions and served them all with Love and passion for his fellow man. This was a prideful and eternal desire of his, serving the Lord. Frank loved many things, but nothing was more important than family and he loved being with us. He enjoyed grandchildren, his children, siblings and friends. hunting, fishing, camping, 4 wheeling and just being outdoors away from the chaotic manmade concrete jungles. Franks passing is preceded by his love, Lois Leonard Rawson and 60 years of marriage, his parents Perry and Retta, his brother, John Rawson who passed away in 1972 of an Idaho Mine Fire, and brother, Darwin Rawson in 2018. Frank is survived by his children (son) Leonard (daughters) Hollie Rawson Johner and Mollie Rawson. Frank has 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, brother Harry & Sandy Rawson, sister, June & Tim Postma, sister, Cheryl & Derl Storey and brother Duane & Joan Rawson and sister-in-law Rose Rawson. The Rawson Family would like to express our utmost appreciation and heart felt thank you to all the caring people who has taken part in the life of Francis (Frank) Rawson in the past 10 plus years since his accident in Anaconda and his progressive illnesses of Parkinson Disease. A Huge Thank You to Butte’s Southwest Montana Veterans Home, you are family… Also thank you to Enhabit and Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted Monday morning, March 25th at 10 o’clock in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Interment will be in Fort Harrison Veteran’s Cemetery.

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Francis Lelin "Frank" Rawson

April 17, 1941 - March 16, 2024