Frank Edward Witt
Frank Witt Obituary
Frank E Witt of Great Falls, Montana, a Korean War Navy Seabee veteran and retired farmer/rancher passed away on August 7, 2021 just before his 89th birthday. Frank was born August 26, 1932 in Conrad, Montana where he attended rural and elementary schools. He attended Conrad High School, Great Falls High School and his junior and senior high school years in Fort Benton.
Upon graduation he enlisted in the US Navy, spending two years in Naples, Italy chauffeuring admirals and dignitaries for Headquarters Allied Forces Southern Europe. After his four years enlistment he attended Northern Montana College in Havre where he excelled in both football and basketball for the Lights.
It was there he met and later married Madeline Gebert of Harlem, Montana on June 22, 1958. They immediately started farming and ranching in the Augusta area where they lived for 25 years. All three of their sons, Frank Jr., David, and Scott were born during that time.
In 1981 they purchased a dryland farm north of Carter. The distance involved along with a series of Frank Sr’s heart attacks precipitated the Augusta home place being sold in 1983. Open heart five bypass surgery in 1997 brought on semi-retirement.
Frank was a hardworking, efficient manager of their diversified operation, having raised cattle, sheep and hogs along with dry and irrigated crops and hay. In 1965 he placed second in statewide Outstanding Young Farmer competition sponsored by the US Jaycees and LP Gas. Even though very busy he always made time to support his family in their activities and even participate himself for many years in Augusta town team softball and basketball. Frank was very active in his community, serving 14 years as a director of Great Falls Farm Credit Services, 9 years as a director of the Lewis & Clark County ASCS committee, Augusta school board, Lewis & Clark County government study commission, director Fairfield Wool & Lamb Pool, Master of Augusta Masonic Lodge, Commander of Legion Post 51, and President for four years of Mended Hearts of Great Falls.
Frank loved competition in all sports whether it was as a spectator or participant. He was once voted a Navy all-star 2nd baseman for a team that played a 4th of July benefit game in Rome, Italy for the US Ambassador to Italy. He thoroughly enjoyed winters in Yuma, AZ and time spent at the family cabin on Echo Lake near Bigfork.
Frank enjoyed photography, playing cards, tracking financial investments and entertaining by giving recitations from memory. His many friends knew him as a quiet, reserved man but also on occasion witnessed his warm and dry sense of humor!
Until his passing, Frank never lost his love or interest in life on the farm and ranch spending time there whenever he could! He had just finished up another harvest season running the grain cart a week prior.
Survivors include his wife, Madeline (Gebert) Witt, sons, Frank Jr (Jill) of Billings, David (Liz) of Fort Benton, & Scott (Christi) of New Berlin, WI. Grandchildren: Jenna Stahl (Randy), Benjamin (fiancé Shelbi Frieling), Shawnee (fiancé-Andre Roberson), Savannah (fiancé-Simon Asay), Tanner and Kendall. Also surviving are brother John Witt (Joanne) of Fort Benton; and sisters, Barbara Duncan (Bud) of Great Falls, Glenna Heath (Hunter) of Zionsville, IN and Linda Avery (Dave) of King Ferry, NY. Frank was preceded in death by his parents Glenn & Barbara Witt.
A service is planned for Thursday, August 12th at 2:00pm at the Croxford Funeral Home in Great Falls, MT with a reception to follow. Live stream of the service will be available through Croxford Funeral Home - www.croxfordfuneralhome.com. A private burial will take separately at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a veterans’ or cardiac medical charity of your choice.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frank Edward Witt, please visit our floral store.
