Frances Hendrix, age 82 of Helena

Frances Agnes Lastovica Hendrix was born on June 18, 1936 in Kovar, Texas to Paul and Albina Lastovica. Frances joined her parents on the family farm as the youngest of 15 children. Her young life was molded by hard work on the farm, the traditions of a large Czechoslovakian family and her mother and daddy’s devout faith.  After Frances’s father retired and his older sons took over the farm, her parents moved to San Antonio. While in San Antonio she was very active in the Baptist church where she played the organ and piano. It was there she made wonderful friendships with the Robbins sisters and the Keefer sisters. Those friendships were very strong and lasted a lifetime.  She worked at Frito Lay Factory and was Nurses Aid.

Frances met and married her first husband Eddie Keefer while in San Antonio and they welcomed their son Stephen Eddie Keefer into the world on October 2, 1956. Eddie was a horse trainer and followed the racing circuit.

Daughter Cynthia Gay was born September 5, 1959 in San Antonio, Texas

Frances met and married her second husband Roy Sauer in 1960, while Roy was still in the Air Force. They relocated to Reno, Nevada where they welcomed the edition of their son Roy Timothy, to their family. After being discharged from the service, the family split their time between the Bitterroot Valley in Montana and San Antonio, Texas. Frances live in Montana over for 50 years.

Frances met the love of her life, Carl Hendrix in 1986. The two Texans met in St. Louis, then married in San Antonio, Texas. They started their life together on June 20, 1987 and moved to his farm in Rotan, Texas. She and Carl loved their trips back to San Antonio and would enjoy time with family. Frances especially enjoyed going dancing with her husband, and her sisters and their spouses. The sisters were always dressed in their finest with Jewelry, beautiful clothes and of course their big Texas hair.  Frances remained the consummate Texas woman.

They enjoyed a wonderful life supporting each other during the good times and the difficult times. While living in Rotan, their youngest sons, RT and Barry were involved in a near fatal car accident. Frances and Carl took them in and diligently nursed them back to health. That time created a very special bond between the four of them. After Carl retired from farming, the couple made their home in Helena, Montana where Frances could be closer to her children and grandchildren. Carl flew helicopters in the Army National Guard and then later worked as a security guard in the Federal Office Building.

Frances’ hobbies and passion were to cook, bake, can and sew baby quilts for her grandchildren. There was always a huge meal on the table for her family and anyone who happened to be at the house at mealtime, always having enough food to feed an army. Her grandchildren were always warm in the beautiful quilts she had sewn them.  She loved being surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Albina Lastovica; her brothers and sisters, Daniel, Edward, Emil, Rudolph, Paul H. Arnold and Alfred Lastovica, Josephine Biesenbach, Lillian Valka, Betty Festervan, Elsie Reid and Mary Archie. She is survived by her brother William (Rosa Lee) Lastovica and sister Eleanora Lindsey both of TX; her children Stephen Keefer (Ivy), Cynthia Honor (Bruce), and R.T. Sauer; 16 Grandchildren and 29 Great Grandchildren.

In leu of flowers, please make donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer; General Donation in honor or memory of Frances A. Hendrix.

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Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.

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