Frances E. Doettl

On May 25, 2021, Mom took an angel flight to heaven. Mom was a fearful flyer but this flight was a joy filled one, going home. Frances was born February 8, 1922, to Tony and Edna Faltermeyer in the shadow of Ear Mountain west of Choteau on her grandfather’s homestead delivered by her grandmother. She grew up on her father’s homestead riding her horse, Rex, to a one room school house. She had many experiences on these rides, especially in the winter. She grew up working with and loving animals of all kinds. She attended high school in Choteau catching a ride from a neighbor until her parents moved to town. While in high school she worked as a soda jerk at the Rexall Drug store. She met and married Walt Wisanen, and to this union two children were born, Peggy and Jim. They later divorced. She met and married Jim Rogers. They had two children, Billy and Terri. They moved to Libby where they resided for ten years, living on a ranch seven miles north on Pipe Creek and in town where they attended school. They later divorced. Frances lived in Washington and California until she moved to Warm Springs,MT where she worked as a nurse’s aide for twenty-seven years. While at Warm Springs she met and married Fred Doettl. They lived and worked together for many years. Fred died in an auto accident while Frances was in South Carolina visiting her daughter, Peggy. It was a sad time in their lives. Frances retired from the state hospital after twenty-seven years and moved to Deer Lodge. She made many friends while living in Deer Lodge and was loved by her neighbors. Her close neighbor, Mary Pat Brown and family, thought of mom as part of their family. Mary Pat and mom were like mother and daughter. After she started showing signs of mental decline, her son Bill took special care of her for several years. She moved to a retirement home in Fort Benton where she lived for three years. She then moved to Beehive Homes assisted living facility in Great Falls where she resided for eight years until her passing. Mom was a very talented woman making clothes for the kids and many grandkids, making quilts, dolls, and many other items. She was a great cook (homemade noodles and chicken was a specialty) her baked pies, cake, bread, and rolls were awesome. Among her many talents was her beautiful singing voice. She could really yodel better than many professionals. Her greatest talent was as a mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She had a very quick wit. She was a loving, kind person. When the situation arose she had very stern discpline with her kids, and she tookcrap from no one. She was very political and wrote several letters to the editor naming politicians and sometimes not warmly. She wrote poetry (a special poem when her grandson, Jeff, died). She was a patriot (a letter to the editor about respecting our American Flag). During Mom’s declining years, her step-grandaughter, Georgia Petersen was a godsendproviding love and affection to her and the family. No words can describe the help and love she gave. Mom was proceeded in death by her husband, Fred; granddaughter, CindiCollins; and grandsons, Jeffery Switzer and Brian Rogers. Mom is survived by her children; Peggy Chillcut of Columbia SC, Jim (Patty) Rogers of Ft. Benton, MT, Bill (Jane) Rogers of Anaconda, MT, Terri Rogers of Great Falls, MT; twelve grandchildren; fourteen great- grandchildren; and fourteen great-great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank the many people at Bee Hive Homes for the love and care they gave to mom over the years, especiallythe staff at Maple House. We are eternally grateful to the staff at Peace Hospice for the kind and gentle care they gave mom in her final days. There are no services scheduled at this time.