Frank “Frankie” Rosette, Jr. died Saturday, November 5, 2022 at approximately 9:10 AM at Fort Harrison Medical Center from Alzheimer’s and sepsis. He was consoled and calmed during his passing by his wife. Frank was 83 years old.
Frank was born in the town of Choteau, MT December 31, 1938. He was the 7th child of 8, and 6th son born to Mary and Frank Rosette.
Frank grew up in Box Elder, MT and studied in a small rural school with several grades in the same class. He enjoyed being in the school plays and making the audiences laugh. He enjoyed keeping people laughing all through his life. There were always stories to share and reshare! Basketball was another favorite of his and his brothers George, Johnny and Chuck. They couldn’t all play at the same time. The coach thought it was unfair advantage to have the team loaded with four very tall Rosettes. There were only five men to a team
During the summers, his Dad would take Frank and his brothers on his jobs of clearing rocks from the farmers’ fields. The winter freeze always threw them up to the surface. Since he was the youngest he wanted to prove he could outwork his older brothers and would pick up the largest rocks he could find and throw them in the pickup. This actually did make him the strongest in the long run, and he was a very powerful man all his life. He used his power when he worked to lift and carry more than anyone else. Habitual work like that ruined his spine and other joints and he suffered in later life with terrible arthritis.
Frank also loved hunting with his Dad. They would take Zeke Parisian along and his Dad would send the boys up the mountain before dawn and when they were in place, he would shoo the deer back up the mountain toward them. Frank recalled that on one of those trips Zeke only had oxford shoes, and in the cold and snow both the shoes and his feet were frozen stiff. As he got older his Dad would send him out to bring home the venison, which would be hung in a tree for their family and his sister, Sarah Parisian’s family who lived next door. He claimed it never took him more than 30 minutes or one bullet, to bag his game! He hunted into his sixties and quit when he shot a large buck and watched it’s dying as he approached. It broke his heart and he never hunted again.
Frank had a life-long love of fishing and out-fished most everyone. While he lived in Reno he fished at Pyramid Lake and brought in fish that won him prizes. Usually, free meals for a certain length of time. His favorite fish to eat were brookies that are smaller than other trout and tasted so good. Pike was another favorite, but getting the hook out of its mouth was tricky!
Unfortunately, Frank’s mother died when he was 14, and he never really got over it. It was a pain that affected the rest of his life. His Mother would not lie about his age so he could enter the National Guard. However, when she passed he did enlist and did his own lying. His Dad couldn’t read or write so they let him in at 15 years old. Later, when they wouldn’t promote “his kind” he told them he quit and he left. Soon the FBI came knocking, and finding he was under age they told the National Guard there was nothing to be done about it. This is pretty much the way he lived his whole life. He did what he was going to do, and he said what he was going to say. Anyone who knew him understood there was never a filter between his brain and his lips. If he was mad at you, you KNEW it and the WHY of it. He also made sure everyone within hearing knew his opinions on politics, and he was as volatile as the subject itself!
When he was 17 years old he enlisted in the US Navy for 4 years. He was assigned to Treasure Island in San Francisco, CA, the base in San Diego, CA and Long Beach, CA. Since Treasure Island was a land filled island, he was greatly shaken when he saw water spewing into the air from a hole in the ground. He was sure the island was sinking. He was grateful to find out it was only a broken water main.
During his time in Long Beach he met his future wife, Sherry Pritchard in El Monte, CA. She and her family were neighbors to his brother Chuck Rosette and his wife Tena. She used to baby-sit their son Chuckie Rosette. She was only 16 when they met, and a man in uniform could send a girl’s heart into palpitations. They married three years later in June of 1963 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park, CA.
Before they were married he finished his stint in the US Navy, and after a brief go at civilian life, he enlisted in the US Army. He went to Lackland AFB to become a dog trainer and to teach others how to train dogs. He loved that work and planned to apply to the Los Angeles Police Department after his enlistment to do that. However, when he returned to CA, and 18 days after he and Sherry were married he was ordered to Viet Nam. That changed his life forever. When he returned, he left his wife and went down a dark road and led a dissolute life.
During that period he worked making cabinets and in carpentry. He was very fast in what he did, so he took his jobs as piecework. Hi9 he would do his carpentry work for one house in half a day and he made $400 for it. In those days, that was incredibly good money. He lamented that he never saved any of it. He gambled and drank it away.
He later worked at UC Davis in Davis, CA. He worked in many areas of the campus, including the labs where they did the stuff they do to animals. His partner could not tolerate the rats in the lab, and would have Frank take that job for him. It didn’t seem to bother him. At one point he asked a person who worked in the lab why they had all the bulbs of garlic hanging in there. It was explained to him that they were not bulbs of garlic but dehydrated rats. Frank became disabled on this job. While carrying a load of equipment, he walked into a bench and damaged his knees.
Before leaving Sherry, she became pregnant with his first child, Anthony Rosette. They never met until he was 26 years old. He wanted to meet his father so she found him so they could get to know one another. The outcome of this was that Frank and Sherry were re-married in April 1990.
This may have been the beginning of a holier life until he passed, but there were some things he could never shed! Right to the end, he did what he was going to do, and said what he was going to say!
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Rosette, his brothers Joe Rosette and wife, Olive, Charles “Chuck” Rosette and ex-wife Tena, Gene Rosette and wife Sharon, George Rosette and wife Marilyn, John Rosette, Gene Rosette and wife Sharon, and his sisters Sarah Jane Parisian and husband Eddie Parisian, and Frances Rosette.
Frank is survived by his wife, Sherry, his sister-in-law Emily (widow of John), sons Anthony Rosette (widowed) and Frank Rosette III and partner Bridget Crandal, and stepdaughter Christina “Nina” Soiseth and her husband Shawn. He is also survived by grandchildren Heather Rosette, Daniel Rosette, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Soiseth, Kacie Ann Soiseth, Diamond Faith Rosette and Katelynn Rosette, as well as two great grandchildren, and a myriad of nieces, nephews and in-laws.
Please send memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Frank’s long time favorite. Burial will be at the Highland Public Cemetery in Havre, MT, Block 35, plot 120.
Special thanks are given to Nurses Vickie, Pat and Sean at the Fort Harrison Medical Center for the very kind and loving care they gave to Frank and his family during a sorrowful and painful time. Thanks are also given to Neil Rosette Sr., Rose Bacon, Willie Parisian, Luke Parisian, Anthony Rosette, and Christina “Nina” Soiseth for their assistance in the preparation for this occasion above and beyond the call of duty.
Viewing will be at 5 p.m. with a vigil to be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 14th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15th at the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing Street. A reception will follow the Mass in the Brondel Center of the Cathedral. Burial will take place at 1 p.m. on November 16th at the Highland Cemetery in Havre, MT.
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 P.M.
Monday November 14, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 North Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12 P.M.
Tuesday November 15, 2022
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Graveside Service
01:00 P.M.
Wednesday November 16, 2022
Highland Cemetery
Havre, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 P.M.
Monday November 14, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 North Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12 P.M.
Tuesday November 15, 2022
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, Montana 59601
Graveside Service
01:00 P.M.
Wednesday November 16, 2022
Highland Cemetery
Havre, Montana 59602
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MARTIN J REITINGER says
I REGET NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET FRANK.
MARTIN REITINGER 650-692-1415
Judy Ober says
Sherry Sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you
Judy and Leonard Ober (used to sit behind you at daily Mass in Cathedral)
Mary Ellen Jenkins (Rosette) says
Sherry, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family. We love you!
Celana Wasson says
I was very sad when I heard Frank passed away. I have many memories of Frank. When I was 11 years old I picked worms with Frank on the Rez in Schurz Nevada, people bought them to use for bait for fishing. He needed cash and I needed money for school clothes. He was a character and a nice cousin. Frank liked to fish at Walker Lake, and he caught fish when everyone else came home empty-handed. As time passed I became a school teacher. I have scolded Frank many times for his behavior. I think he tried to provoke me. He would listen and laugh. I am praying for you and your family during this time. Celana Brewster Wasson
Neal P Rosette, Sr. says
It is so sad that Uncle Frank has passed. He was my last blood Uncle and last Rosette child of Frank Sr., and Mary Rosette. I will miss the early morning telephone calls with him and miss his wit and stories that he shared with me. I feel honored that he called me and know that the Creator has a special place for him right next to his Mom, Dad, and siblings. Love you Uncle Frank!
Teresa Reitinger says
Dear Sherry,
I was deeply moved by the story of Frank’s life. It is so richly detailed, honest and loving. It is a great and well written tribute on many levels. From this story of his life, I feel that I knew him. I can make a small donation to St. Jude Research Children’s Research Hospital and I will do that in his honor. Love, Teresa Reitinger