Francis Siirtola

Francis Allen Siirtola, 72, Bismarck, North Dakota, died Saturday, June 25, 2005, at a Bismarck hospital after a long, courageous battle of multiple ailments. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10:30 AM at United Church of Christ in Bismarck with the Rev. Jim Moos officiating. Burial will be at Ahola Cemetery in Wing, North Dakota. Visitation will be Wednesday from 12:00 - 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck. Visitation will continue Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church. Francis was born on December 5, 1932, in Bismarck, the son of Heimo and Aino Pesonen Siirtola. He was raised and attended school in the Wing area and graduated from Wing High School. He then served in the U.S. Army and taught school in Lyman Township before graduating from Jamestown College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Francis married Lora M. Moore on April 4, 1959, in West Fargo, North Dakota, and was a loving husband until her death in February of 1993. He worked briefly at the Hartford Insurance Company before accepting a position with the U.S. Treasury Department. Francis worked for the Internal Revenue Service in Des Moines, Iowa, Burlington, Iowa, Spencer, Iowa, and Bismarck, North Dakota, before retiring in 1991 after thirty years of service. Francis married Clara Privratsky on July 11, 1998, in Bismarck. Francis was active in his church and was sent as a delegate to Honduras Central America in the mid 1980's. He also traveled extensively around the world during his retirement. He especially loved traveling to Alaska to visit his granddaughter. Francis was a fan of history and current events and enjoyed matching wits against the players on Jeopardy. He also enjoyed his annual fishing trip with his friends. Francis is survived by his wife, Clara of Bismarck; his sons, Mark of Bismarck and Jeffrey of Sierra Vista, Arizona; his daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Pat Prosser of Anchorage, Alaska; his granddaughter, Lora Beatrice Prosser of Anchorage, Alaska; his stepdaughter, Jennifer Privratsky of Fargo, North Dakota; his step-son, Shawn Privratsky of California; his brother, Henry Siirtola of Wing, North Dakota; his sister, Selma Laub of Bismarck; and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lora; his parents; three brothers, Felix, Leonard, and Everett; and three sisters, Linda, Martha, and Hulda.

Francis Siirtola

December 5, 1932 - June 25, 2005