Francis Samuel Gibbs was born December 23, 1916 to Jonathon and Rebecca (Stains) Gibbs in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He attended school in Winnipeg until the sixth grade. He worked odd jobs as a young man and during the depression he rode the trains and worked for anyone he could for some money. He joined the Canadian Cavalry before WW II and trained with horses. He then played in a Legion band in Winnipeg and in 1939 the band visited Thief River Falls, MN where he met his wife to be Isabel Marie Rosendahl. During WWII he was transferred from the Cavalry to the tanks and sent all over Canada training navigators and tank pilots who were headed off to war. He then served in Whitehorse in the Yukon where his wife joined him and their daughter was born. After spending about a year there, they were stationed back in Winnipeg and discharged from the Canadian Air Force in 1946. They then moved to St. Hilaire, MN where Frank worked for his father-in-law buying and selling poultry, eggs, and feed. He then went to work for the Coop Creamery. He then went to work for the St. Hilaire School driving school bus and doing janitorial work at the school.

Frank then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and did his basic training in San Antonio, TX. He was then stationed in Spokane, WA. In 1950 they were sent to Anchorage, Alaska and then stationed in Japan for 12 months while his family resided in St. Hilaire. After his return to the US he was again sent to Korea during the Korean War. He subsequently served at bases in Washington State, Madrid, Spain where his son was born, New York, Germany, Michigan and Texas. The family then spent another three years in Japan, after which he retired from the US Air Force after 25 years of service. The family made their home in St. Hilaire, MN, and Frank worked at Arctic Cat for a year. He then worked at Gibsons for four years keeping track of the warehouse. After that he concluded his working days at Lynn Motor Supply in TRF but decided working was interfering with his golf game.

Frank liked to play golf, carving, photography, gardening, and metal working. He was a member of Thief River Falls American Legion. To keep his mind sharp he took classes at Northland College in Art, bookkeeping, English, law enforcement, and graduated with a liberal arts degree.

Survived by one son Samuel Francis Gibbs, Grand Forks, ND; daughter Michele Shea (Richard) Burlington, VT, one sister Joan McAmmond, Ontario, Canada. He is also survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his wife Isabel, his parents and one brother.

ORGANIST: Phyllis Dalager
SOLOIST: Pastor Terri Cuppett
SELECTION: Abide With Me
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: How Great Thou Art
BAGPIPER: Dan Aird "Amazing Grace"