Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271545
Title: Frank J. Zillich
Date: 8/10/1926-4/6/2025
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 8/10/1926
Summary: Frank Zillich, 98, of Dickinson, ND, passed away April 6, 2025, at St. Luke’s Home in Dickinson. Funeral Mass was held April 15, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Richardton, ND, with Father Thomas Wordekemper, OSB celebrating. Burial was at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND. Frank was born on August 10, 1926, in Gladstone, ND, to Peter and Mary Zillich. He grew up on farms around Gladstone. He joined the US Navy and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan during the last years of WWII. When he came home he worked as a mechanic for Albert Helgeson in Taylor, ND, and then bought the business. He and his brother, John, were Massey dealers for many years. He also owned Frank’s Auto and Tractor Repair, where many vehicles and farm implements were kept running with Frank’s expertise. He later took over farming for Grandpa Meyer on the Pfiefer land. Being out in the field was his happy place. He also loved hunting and fishing with family and friends. We appreciate everyone in Taylor who took him out fishing, especially in his later years. He enjoyed his winter trips to Devils Lake to go ice fishing with Kevin and Keith Charbonneau. Frank married Jenny Meyer in 1952 and they had two children, Deborah and Randy. They had a love affair that lasted 57 years, with Frank being Jenny’s faithful caregiver during her many cancer battles, until her passing in 2009. He also transferred his love of farming to take over her garden, and he loved growing and sharing produce with his neighbors. Frank was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church, VFW, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Lions, and Elks. He was the griddle master and expert pancake flipper for many VFW community breakfasts. He was a volunteer firefighter, serving as chief for many years in Taylor. He was recently inducted into the North Dakota Firefighters Hall of Fame. Frank is survived by his children, Deb and Randy (Carla); grandchildren, Jessica (Brandon) Deavy, Taylor, Maggi, Kristen (Aaron) Radtke, Ashlie, and Jaxen; one sister-in-law, Vi Meyer; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jenny; parents, Peter Zillich and Mary and Matt Dorner; brothers, Nick and John (Margie), as well as John, Peter, and Anton, all lost in childhood; sisters, Katherine Texley and their son Gary, and Rose (Marlin) Luff and their son, Daryl; Deb’s soulmate, Kevin Charbonneau; in-laws, Ed (Pat) Meyer, Adleine (John) McKenna and their daughter Anita, Liz (Peter) Gasch and their daughter Sandy, Ray Meyer, and their parents, John and Margaret Meyer.
Red ID: FND_I_79041 Image ID: 524754 Image Notes: FND001 271545

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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