Barbara Jean (Osweiler) Francetich

Barbara Jean (Osweiler) Francetich, 88, of Tracy, MT, passed away May 14 at her home surrounded by family. A celebration of her life will be held at Holy Trinity Church (692 Stockett Rd, Stockett, MT 59480) in Centerville on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Sand Coulee Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the Eagles Lodge, 1501 9th St. So., Great Falls, MT. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Barbara was born in Great Falls on September 30, 1935, to Victor and Ellen Osweiler. She graduated from Centerville High School in 1953. She married Alan Francetich on September 11, 1954, and together they raised four children. She lived in her same cute little home in Tracy for 70 years. Barb worked as a secretary at the Cascade County Health Department prior to her marriage. She taught Kindergarten at Centerville Schools for several years. The local Tracy water department depended on her to do water testing for several decades.

Barb converted to Catholicism before marriage, she was a devoted member of St. James Church in Sand Coulee, then Holy Trinity Parish in Centerville where she served in many capacities for decades. She was also a member of the Eagles Lodge.

She always had time to listen to those that dropped into her kitchen, being a coffee house long before Starbucks! - with many visitors enjoying that hot cup of coffee that was always on. She was the original UPS/GPS, directing several trucks to deliver their goods to the right location out in the gulch.

She was a 4-H leader, teaching many eager young clubbers, adjudicating at the state fair for many years. She was always proud of her pie making skills as a 4Her herself when growing up on the farm, with that skill taking her to nationals to demonstrate how to make the perfect pie. She finessed those skills throughout her life, being one of the best cooks making truly “homemade meals and goodies” with her Chocolate Chip Cookies being the crown jewel. Few ever left her home without eating some of her cooking/baking and if lucky given a bag of those amazing chocolate chip cookies to take home. She made thousands of dozens of those chocolate chip cookies that were eaten on many a Centerville sports team’s bus or given as a tip for working on a project at her home, or just shared as a bit of love to savor for a few days. She cooked dozens of turkeys, “pigs in the blankets”, and never less than ten pounds of the family recipe of potato salad for many church dinners or community events.

Kids flocked to her house each Halloween for their full-size candy bar and numerous nieces and nephews as well as adopted grandkids knew where the “candy bar” drawer and pop refrigerator were when they stopped by to say hello.

Barb is survived by her sons, Mick (Whitney) of Fairview, OR., Kerry (Rosalie) of Tigard, OR, and Robb (Trisha) of Grayson, GA; daughter, Becky (John) Whittemore of Oriental, NC; sister, Vickie (Ken) Sappington of Helena, MT, her brother-in-law, Harvey Feller of Great Falls, MT, and her aunt, Bonnie Francetich Eller. She was the proud grandmother of 8 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren. And she cherished many cousins, nieces and nephews as well as the local “adopted grandchildren.” She also leaves behind several close friends that sustained her since her husband’s passing and will always be considered part of our family.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alan in 2017; sister, Joanie Feller; brother-in-law, Ron Francetich and her sister-in-law, Joan Francetich McGuire.

The family wishes to thank Stillwater Hospice for their dedication and loving care these past five weeks as your support allowed mom to finish living as she always wished - at home with friends and family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Centerville Public Schools (Alan & Barb Francetich Memorial Fund), 693 Stockett Road, Sand Coulee, MT 59472.