Vigil Service: Thursday, November 6, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City
Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, November 7, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.
Private Family Interment: will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the family lot in the Calvary Cemetery
Frank Pius Messmer, age 93, of Miles City passed away on November 3, 2003 at St. Johns Lutheran Home in Billings.
Frank was born in Richardton, North Dakota on November 4, 1909 the son of Frank and Emila (Zimmerman) Messmer. He attended private catholic schools from which he graduated from 8th grade. He attended high schools at St. Mary's Abby School in Richardton and also in Taylor, North Dakota. Franks junior year of high school, he moved to Miles City, Montana where he finished high school and graduated in 1927 from Custer County High School. He then went to work for his uncle in Sidney, Montana working for J.C. Boespfug Construction, building the courthouse. He then returned to Miles City where he worked for Neff Grocery for two years because of lack of work in the construction business. Frank then went to work in the office for J.C. as a bookkeeper while attending night school at Montana Business Institution in Miles City.
Frank earned Secretary/Treasurer position for J.C. Construction. He then helped build the Tongue River Dam and then moved to Illinois where he built war housing on the Army Base. He then moved to Seattle, Washington working construction-building houses in a Slum Clearance Program, it was his first job and he continued working on the war housing projects for the next 7 years. Frank moved back to Bozeman, Montana and with Tom Haggerty formed Haggerty-Messmer Construction Company where they built the Field House in Bozeman and the Twin Towers, Student Housing on the campus, and many more projects throughout the area. In Franks business, they also built highway bridges and nursing homes.
In 1972, Frank and Tom resolved the business and Frank retired and moved to Billings where he helped Les Harding Construction as project manager and buyer in the building of the Rim Rock Mall. Frank married Mamie Lee Green on October 11, 1930. They had four children: Donnalee, James, Stephen, and Susan.
Mamie preceded him in death in June of 1985. Frank married Anne McFarland Rieger in October of 1986. They lived in Billings for two years and then moved to Plevna in 1988 where they resided until 1999 when they returned to Billings. "Sis", "Jeeps", "Buck" and "Sue Sue" remember Dad insisting everyone plays golf, everyone hunts (what wonderful times at Mukilteo & Ennis), everyone takes music lessons (Spent many happy hours singing at family gatherings), everyone eats supper together no matter how late and spends Sunday together, everyone plays cards especially cribbage and gin. We could go on and on with memories of dads many family oriented activities. As teenagers, we often grumbled; as adults we treasure family.
Since Dad died just before Election Day, its fitting to mention he was an avid Republican and very proud to have been born a first generation American. The flag and the anthem always brought tears to his eyes.
Frank was on the board of directors of the Associated General Building Contractors of America and was also the Chapter President; he was a member of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus in Billings starting in 1948 and was a life member. He was a life member of the B.P.O.E. chapter, Charter Life Member of the Riverside Country Club in Bozeman which he helped build, Highlands Golf Course in Billings, Frank was an avid golfer and won many trophies. He was a director on the First Security Bank in Bozeman, and was a member of the Catholic Church.
Frank is survived by his wife, Anne; two sons: James Messmer and his wife Joan of Bozeman, MT, and Stephen Messmer of Miles City, MT; two daughters: Donnalee Swenumson and her husband Jon of Livingston, MT; and Susan Williams and her husband Alan of Raymond, Alberta, Canada; a step-son, Terry Rieger and his wife Barbara of Elk Grove, CA; four step-daughters: Fawn Gongre of Billings, MT; Lyria Miller and her husband Marshall of Bremerton, WA; Valarie Grimm and her husband Randy of Lancaster, PA; and Elna Thomas and her husband Andy of Billings, MT; thirteen grandchildren: Sharman, Mike, Jan, and Shawn Sweeney; Kindra and Kari Messmer; Trevor, Trent, Naomi, Taylor, Eden, Gabrelle, and Taz Williams, and nine great grandchildren; a brother, John Messmer of Santa Barbara, CA; a sister-in-law, Thelma Green of Billings, MT. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his first wife, Mamie in 1985, a granddaughter, Shannon, and a great grandson, Christopher.
Visitation will be held Thursday, November 6, 2003 in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. A Vigil Service will be held Thursday, November 6, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, November 7, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Private family interment will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the family lot in the Calvary Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Convent Keepers or to the charity of one's choice.
Service Schedule
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