Francis E. Bronec (97) passed away Thursday, September 23, 2016 at the Missouri River Medical Center in Fort Benton, Montana. A prayer vigil/ rosary service will be 7 pm, Monday, September 26, 2016 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Benton, with his funeral Mass at 11 am, Tuesday at St. Margaret 's Church in Geraldine. Willie D'Souza will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Geraldine Cemetery. Memorials in Francis' honor may be made to Missouri River Medical Center. He so appreciated the wonderful care he received there. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Benton Funeral Home.

Francis was born November 26, 1918 to parents Mary Parizek and Thomas Bronec in Graceville at the Ford place. This property was purchased just recently, with much pride, by one of his sons. He attended the Center School until 8 ^th grade. He went to school in a horse and buggy or sled. In the winter they heated rocks to keep warm for the four mile ride. His education did not end when he left school. He taught himself to weld and repair machinery.  He farmed, one mile from his parent's farm all his life. Francis was always prepared. When the lights went out at the basketball game, while watching his son play, he was the only one who had a flashlight.

He was a gentle giant of a man, over six feet four inches tall. He taught his children by example without raising his voice. He showed them at any job worth doing was worth doing well. When he acquired a new piece of property that had rye in the wheat, he had the children fan out across the field and pull the rye and put it in bags. His farm land was a source of pride. This example has served his children well.

He married Ellen Ames on June 29, 1946. She was a nurse he met when his father hurt his arm in a corral with a bull. He told his granddaughter there were a lot of girls in Geraldine who thought he would be a catch but he only had eyes for Ellen. He went to town to see Ellen even during blizzards and getting stuck in the snow. This was a 60 mile round trip. They had 13 children. Marie (Dave), Chuck (Jeanne), Larry (Fran), Robert (Becky),   Bernice,   Dorothy (Bernie),   Ed (Susan),   Pat (Margie),   Claude (Nita), and Alan (Niki). He was preceded in death by three sons, Joseph, Paul and Vince. His wife, Ellen passed away in 2014. Francis had 26 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Children have always had a special place in Francis' heart. He would light up when children entered the room.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Thomas and siblings Martha, Thomas, and Louis. His sister Irene survives.