Frances L. (Fran) Lenhart

Frances L. (Fran) Lenhart, 97, died on August 28. Frances was born May 4, 1918, on a farm outside of Odessa, the fifth of six children born to Anna Mary and George Heimbigner.

Frances grew up on farms in the Spangle, Odessa and Harrington areas and graduated from Harrington High School in 1935. She attended Cheney Normal School (EWU), graduating in 1938. Frances began her teaching career, first at Lakeland Village and then teaching junior high in Hay, during the war years. After the war, Frances returned to Eastern Washington College of Education (EWU) to complete her bachelor degree. Frances moved to Ritzville and resumed teaching at the junior high school.

She met Alven Lenhart and married him in 1948. They had two daughters: Mary Frances and Vicki Lee. Frances returned to teaching once her daughters were in school. She taught third grade for the next 21 years, retiring in 1977. Frances continually demonstrated her love of children, treating them the same regardless of their economic background or skin color.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband Alven, her siblings and their spouses and her daughter Mary Frances. She is survived by her daughter Vicki and her husband Murray Stopherd, grandchildren: Kelly Braun, Molly Crawford (Ron), Alissa Simon (Wilby), Andrew Stopherd, Nick Stopherd (Jennifer), Daniel Race (Tina) and eight great grandchildren.

Frances was a lifelong learner and avid reader until the time of her death. She was interested in politics and was always conscious of the social issues of the time. She took delight in embroidery and needlepoint and created many works that hang in the homes of numerous family members. She played bridge weekly and was a bridge club member with a close group of friends for decades.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 2, from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Danekas Funeral Home-Ritzville. Funeral Services will be Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church and followed by Internment at Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. A Luncheon at Emanuel Lutheran Church will follow the internment. Memorials are suggested to the Ritzville Public Library.