Frankie Ann (Witt) Housel

FRANKIE ANN HOUSEL

1940-2022

Frankie Ann Housel passed away at the Community Hospital of Anaconda on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at the age of 81 years young with her loving children and husband by her side.

Frankie was born November 2, 1940 to Olive and Wayne Witt in Charleston, Utah. She attended school and graduated from Wasatch High School in Heber, Utah in 1958. Shortly after, she married Jack Housel, Sr.  They were sealed together for time and eternity through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jack’s work took them out of Utah and after several moves, they landed in Philipsburg, MT and Frankie fell in love. She told Jack, “no more moves!” She remained in Philipsburg until her death, 54 years later. Jack and Frankie were blessed with six children: five boys and one daughter. They were married for 21 years when they divorced.  Frankie married Maury Courtney with whom she had her last child, James. She and Maury later divorced.

About 20 years after their divorce, Jack and Frankie reunited and got remarried, on the same day as their first wedding, August 15. They remained married until her death, almost another 20 years later!!

Frankie was known for her intense work ethic, sometimes holding down 2-3 full time jobs while she raised her children. She worked at the Antler’s Café, the Gallery Café, and worked as a CNA for 25 plus years at Granite County Medical Center. Until her death she was an active and important part of the H&R Thrift store and was a member of the Board. Her last shift volunteering was shortly before her death. All of her family got multiple and wonderful gifts from her beloved Thrift Store!  Frankie was also a very active member of the Philipsburg Schools where all seven of her children graduated! Even with work, she hardly ever missed a ball game or a concert of any kind! Frankie was always a very active member of her church and the callings therein. She was a firm believer in her faith and loved her time doing temple work.

Frankie’s entire universe revolved around her children and then her grandchildren! She was the literal “glue” that held them all together, through good times and bad. Her biggest accomplishment in life was her family. Frankie lost her own immediate family early in her life and always said she was the “last one left.” And we know she made them proud!! Her biggest sorrow was losing her son, Steven, in 2000. She was never quite the same after his death.

Frankie was an outstanding woman, who gave to anyone she could, who listened without judgment, who loved relentlessly, who worked her fingers to the bone, and who never, ever complained. We all never could quite figure out how she withstood the pain she was in all of these years. She just “did it!” She will always be remembered as a person her children, her grandchildren and all of her friends and family aspire to be!

Frankie is survived by her loving husband, Jack of the Philipsburg home, her children, Jack, Jr. (Jan) of Libby, MT, Michael (Amanda) of Manning, ND, Timothy (Osmar) of Billings, MT, Mark (Jodie) of Dillon MT, Carrie (Jay) of Drummond, MT, and Jim (Bobi) of Mount Vernon, WA; 25 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her honorary boys Richard, Tom, and Ray O’Dell, honorary daughter, Carla (Robert) Fresquez and her amazing stepchildren from Georgia.

Frankie is preceded in death by her mother Olive, her father Wayne, her brother Duane, her son Steven as well as multiple other family members.

“We love our mom because she gave us everything…..she gave us love, she gave us hope, she gave us her soul….she gave us her time!”

Services will be held Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Philipsburg, MT at 11:00 AM. There will be a viewing at the same location at 10 AM.