Robert Franzen

Carl Robert Leonard Franzen, or Robert C. as he was known, passed away, surrounded by family, in Sioux Falls, SD, on January 22, 2012 at the age of 91 years. Services will be held Friday, January 27, at 2 pm at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN, with visitation Thursday January 26, from 4-8 pm at Hartquist Funeral Home in Pipestone.

Bob was born October 24, 1920, in a farmhouse near Langford, South Dakota, to Sven Johan (John) and Anna Maria (Mary) Carlson Franzen. He attended a small grade school near the farm and graduated from Langford High School in 1938. As a young man, he was active in Luther League at Highlanda Lutheran Church, occasionally accompanying his pastor when he preached at other churches in the region. On one such visit, a young church pianist in Ortonville, MN, caught his eye and several years later, his heart.

In the interim, Bob attended Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls. He was greatly disappointed when in 1942 he was unable to enlist in the military because of a congenital back condition. He then farmed with his brother Harold near Langford for four years. When his back condition worsened, making farming impossible, he began employment in 1947 as an assistant cashier in the Langford State Bank. On October 12, 1947, he married the young woman he'd met years earlier, Ethel Kallberg Erickson, and adopted three-year-old Marilyn later that year. Three more daughters were born to them, Linda, Susan, and Margaret.

In l951, Bob became managing officer of the Langford State Bank and in January 1954, purchased controlllng interest in the First State Bank of Pierpont, SD. Twenty years later he applied for and received permission to move the bank's charter to Webster, SD, changing the name to Day County Bank, designating the Pierpont location as a branch. In l981, the bank was sold and Bob retired, moving in 1989 to Pipestone, MN, with his wife.

Bob was active in community and church activities wherever he lived. He served for six years on the board of directors of Bethesda Homes of Webster and Aberdeen, SD, and for six years on the board of directors of Lutheran Social Service. He loved golfing, singing, and most of all, his family.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother Harold; his sisters Lillian (Sjovall) and Jeanette (Schak); nephews Loren Franzen, Paul Sjovall, Ivan Sjovall; and a niece, Amy Jesh. Survivors include his wife Ethel, of Pipestone; his sister Ruth Franzen of Fargo, ND; four daughters, Marilyn Christensen (Kent), Linda Berglin (Gerald), Susan DeClerk (Dennis), and Margaret Borg (Michael); thirteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and seven nephews.

Bob was known as a man of uncompromising integrity and defined the word 'gentleman.' He will be greatly missed.