Frances Mae Jorgensen “Fran” Wylder, aged 91, of Great Falls, passed on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Benefis Grandview Cottages in Great Falls due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease and COVID-19.
Fran was born August 3, 1931, in Great Falls, Montana, the first child of Robert F. and Frances J. Burleigh Jorgensen, both of whom were also born in Great Falls. Fran was raised in Great Falls by her parents, with special help from her aunts, Mae Taylor, Zita Burleigh, Marguerite Schaefer, Helen Wellens, and Betty Jorgensen.
Fran attended Great Falls public schools and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1945. She then attended the University of Montana, where she graduated with a B.S. in business administration in 1953. While at the university, Fran joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was enriched by her association there with exceptional young women who became life-long friends. During her college years, Fran also met the love of her life, James M. “Jim” Wylder, and they were married shortly after graduation.
Fran and Jim began married life in Billings, Montana where Jim worked in the land and human relations departments of Mobil Oil and Husky Oil in Billings and Cody, Wyoming, while Fran worked in businesses of oil-related companies. During that time, Fran and Jim became the parents of Tim and Carrie. In 1960 the family returned to Great Falls when Jim joined Great Falls Coca-Cola Bottling Co., a business owned by the Jorgensen family. While Jim attended to business, Fran stayed at home to manage the household and raise Tim and Carrie. Later, Fran resumed her education at the University of Providence, earning a teaching certificate in 1973, and thereafter worked as a tutor for the Great Falls Public Schools.
In keeping with her love for Montana, and Great Falls specifically, Fran was a faithful volunteer, board member, and benefactor for numerous community organizations. These included the Cub Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, First Presbyterian Church, Great Falls Junior League, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, YMCA, Salvation Army, Great Falls Symphony, Benefis Healthcare Foundation, C.M. Russell Museum, PEO, Great Falls Rescue Mission-Cameron Family Center, University of Montana, and the University of Providence. Fran was a member of the First Presbyterian Church from childhood.
Understanding the importance of college level education, Fran supported scholarships at the Benefis Healthcare Foundation and the University of Providence. Fran was one of the trustees of the Robert F. and Frances J. Jorgensen Foundation since its inception and was instrumental in its 1997 grant to the University of Providence for expansion of the library and its 2013 grant for the Learning & Information Commons in the library, to which Fran was a substantial individual donor. In 2017, the University of Providence presented Fran with its prestigious Manus Dei (Hand of God) award. In 2021, the C.M. Russell Museum dedicated the Wylder Atrium at the museum in honor of the contributions of Fran Wylder and her family.
Since 1966 a series of cabins at Seeley Lake were the center of fun for Fran’s family and friends in both winter and summer. In the winter, Fran enjoyed cross-county skiing and the occasional snowmobile ride. In the summer, Fran loved to hike, find wildflowers, pick huckleberries, and tell stories around the beach fire. In the fall, the Seeley cabin served as a base camp for 25 plus years of Grizzly football games in the family stadium box and later in the Canyon Club. A lifetime of memories for the family were created at the Seeley Lake cabins. Throughout the business and retirement years, Fran and Jim also traveled extensively to Europe (six times), Australia, New Zealand, and China.
Despite her many activities and accomplishments, in Fran’s final view, her legacy was her family. She lived to see her children and all of her grandchildren graduate from college and start successful adult lives. Fran was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Fran was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jim. She is survived by her brother, Robert F. Jorgensen, Jr.; son, Timothy J. (Martha) Wylder; daughter Carrie F. (Mark) Matsko; grandchildren, Morgan (Rockwell) Wylder, Marshall Wylder, Kellee (Mike) Hardesty, Karen (Jared) Hostetter, and Robin (Sam) Peeples; and great-grandchildren, Luke Hardesty, Leigh Hardesty, Owen Hardesty, Alice Hostetter, Bennett Hostetter, Rhys Peeples, and Shilo Peeples.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 2, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Great Falls with a reception to follow.
Memorial donations are suggested to the University of Providence, the C.M. Russell Museum, or the McLaughlin Research Institute (Alzheimer’s research).
