Doris Franzen

Doris Bertha (Johnston) Franzen, of Glasgow, Mont., died peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the age of 87 at Valley View Nursing Home, in Glasgow with family at her side.

A rosary will be held Monday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m., at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Glasgow. A Funeral mass will be held Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m., at St. Raphael's Catholic Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery, Glasgow.

Doris was born in Middle River Village, Minn., on July 15, 1936, to Clifford Jerome Johnston and Ida Elizabeth (Anderson) Johnston. She was the oldest of 10 children.

The family moved to Flaxville, Mont., in 1938. From there they moved to Poplar, Mont., for a short time before moving to the Fort Peck Dam Project. In 1942 the family moved to Glasgow when Doris started school. In 1944, the growing family moved to Opheim, Mont., where Doris' Uncle Red had purchased a farm northwest of Opheim. In 1948, the family made the permanent move back to Glasgow.

Doris graduated from Glasgow High School in 1954 and married the love of her life on July 1, 1954. She had to get permission from her parents to marry Albert George Franzen. Eight children were born to this marriage of 65 years.

Once all those kids went to school, Doris started in the work force with the Glasgow Police Department where she worked for 25 years. She spent many years volunteering in the community with Friends of the Pioneer Museum, research and publication of Footprints in the Valley, the Heritage Wall Project, and the annual mass mailing to raise funds for the museum.

Mom was always thinking of others by sending out cards and letters of support and well wishes.

She is proceeded in death by her beloved husband, Albert; her parents, Clifford and Ida; brothers Bud Dick, Gary and Allen; and sisters Betty and Judy.

Doris is survived by her sisters, Shirley, Faye, and Penny; sister-in-law Rita; children Rollie (Lorie) Franzen, of Cape Coral, Fla., Brenda (Butch) Leckie, of Glasgow, Ann (Tim) Potter, of Glasgow, Sharon (Nick) Thelen, of Kenmare, N.D., Louise (Clem) Lemieux, of Glasgow, Linda (Jimmy) Kuich, of Spanaway, Wash., Bridger (Thelma) Franzen, of Monarch, Mont., and Theresa (Allen) Sevareid, of Belgrade, Mont. She was blessed with 21 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Doris would often look at her legacy and say, "I am so blessed."

Condolences may be left for the family at bellmorltuarymontana.com.