Franken, Dries, 1916-1996

FRANKEN, BOSCH, MARRA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/24/2010 at 22:19:44

Dries Franken, September 24, 1916-September 30, 1996

Dries Franken, 80, of Luverne, Minnesota, formerly of Sioux Center, died Monday, September 30, at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids. Services were Friday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m. at Free Grace Reformed Church with the Rev. Arnold Punt officiating. Burial was at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California.

Franken was born September 24, 1916, to Gerrit Hendrik and Gertje (Bosch) Franken in Sioux Center. He attended Middleburg Country School through the eighth grade. He married Dorathy J. Marra on May 24, 1941, on a farm near Hull. He entered the U.S. Army in December 1942. He served during World War II in Europe, receiving two Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Silver Battle Star, and four Overseas Service Bars. After his discharge in September 1945, the couple lived on a farm near Luverne. They moved to Sioux County where they continued farming until Dries started working as an electrician. The family moved to southern California in 1958 where he continued as an electrician. He moved to Luverne in 1995.

He was a member of the Artesia Reformed Church in Artesia, California, and the American Legion. He enjoyed wildlife, fishing, card playing and traveling.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Donna Woolard of Foley, Minnesota, and Eileen and Craig Smythe of Oregon City, Oregon; three sons, Merlyn and Barbara of Garden Grove, California, Rod and Joyce of Lake Forest, California, and Gary of La Mirada, California; four brothers, Howard and Wilma of Luverne, Gerrit and Elizabeth and Arnie and Velma, all of Sioux Center, and Irwin and Carol of Denver, Colorado; three sisters, Grace and Bernard Van Batavia of Luverne, Louise Oliver and Kathleen and Wilmer Altena of Sioux Center; two sisters-in-law, Nelvina Franken and Wilma Franken of Sioux Center; seven grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Everett and Louis; and one son, Terry L.

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Source: Sioux Center News, Oct. 8, 1996.