Frances Fettig

Minot

Frances Fettig, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 87, with an adoring family by her side.

Frances was born on June 9, 1937, to John and Rosie Salwey in Rugby, ND, and raised in the small community of Orrin, ND. It was there that she learned the values that would define her life — hard work, humility, deep faith, and a boundless love for family.

She met the love of her life, Leonard Fettig, at a good, old-fashioned dance — a spark that turned into a lifelong love story. The two were married in 1957 and began their life together on the family farm in Selz, ND.

They later moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where Leonard worked as a long-distance trucker, transporting mobile homes across the Midwest. Eventually, they returned to the family farm and then on to Minot, ND, in the 1960s to raise a growing family that would be their greatest joy: eight children — four boys and four girls.

Frances worked a variety of jobs over the years, always bringing with her the magic of her kitchen. Whether cooking for her family or serving in local establishments, Frances used her gift to nourish and connect with others.

And she always had to stay busy. So much so, that after a short retirement, she went right back to work serving warm plates and kind smiles to residents as a cook at the Kalix home – a job she enjoyed well into her 80s.

Her cooking was legendary, and her home was a constant gathering place. Holidays were something special — filled with boisterous laughter, robust conversation, and the delicious smells that pulled her family closer together.

On any given day, something was baking in the oven – ham and scalloped potatoes, banana bread, irresistible caramel rolls, you name it – and everyone was welcome at her table. She never let anyone go home hungry, often saying with a chuckle, “If you leave hungry, that’s your own fault.”

Frances was the center of her family’s universe — the calm in the storm, the one whose wisdom and warmth you could always count on. Whether it was her encouraging words, her gentle guidance, or her well-worn sayings like “girls, girls, girls” and “oye, oye, oye”, Frances had a way of saying just what you needed to hear — whether it was to lift your spirit or gently set you straight.

Her infectious laugh could light up any room — whether she was chatting quietly one-on-one or presiding over a holiday gathering of forty or fifty loved ones as “Grandma Franny.” That laugh, that love, and that deep reservoir of quiet strength will be remembered by all who knew her.

A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Frances lived her faith daily, extending unconditional love to those around her as she believed God extended it to her. In her final days, she was comforted by the knowledge that she would be reunited with her beloved Leonard in God’s embrace — the place she had looked forward to, the place where peace, love, and togetherness knows no end.

Frances was the quiet heart and soul of her family. The foundation beneath us, the warmth that made any place feel like home. Her departure leaves a void that cannot be filled, but her spirit lives on in each of us — in the way we love, gather, cook, laugh, and support one another. The very best of us comes from her.

She is survived by her daughters Sara (Mike) Fisk, Mary (Jeff) Dickinson, Rosie (Keith) Martelle, Vickie (Todd) Hiller, and son, Howard (Nancy) Fettig; as well as 21 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; and countless friends and extended family in whom her memory will live on.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leonard, in 1994; her parents John and Rosie; her brothers and sisters; her three sons, Charlie, David, and Leonard Jr.; her son-in-law, Bill Dickinson; and two granddaughters, Ashley and Ariel Fettig.

A celebration of Frances’s life will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot, ND, on April 24, 2025 at 11 a.m.

Visitation will be held April 23, 2025 from 5 to 6 p.m. with a Rosary to begin at 6 p.m. at Thompson Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND.

In her honor, the family encourages you to share a favorite memory with your loved ones, make a favorite family recipe, or simply offer someone the kindness and warmth Frances always gave so freely.

We love you, Frances — Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma. Thank you for everything.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 18, 2025.