Frances Katherine (Ollenberger) Richter

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frances Richter (Ollenberger) on December 28, 2022.

Frances passed away peacefully at the Fort St John Hospital with family by her side.

Frances was born April 29, 1931 to parents Valentine and Katherina Ollenberger (Scheck) in Macklin, Saskatchewan.

She attended the Ollenberger schoolhouse, so named after her family and many siblings who populated Macklin.

Most Ollenbergers relocated to Dawson Creek, Goodlow and Baldonnel to farm and forge their own families.

Frances met Vincent Richter and they were married May 25, 1949 in Fort St. John and settled

on the Grandhaven homestead where she lived until her last days.

Sadly, Vincent passed away in 1970 leaving Frances to maintain the farm, children and work as a young widow.

She went straight to work at the Fort St. John Hospital where she came to manage the laundry department until retirement in 1997.

Her time was filled with organizing singles dances, pottery, knitting, ladies bowling league, cribbage tournaments and travel.

Frances traveled to every province, most states, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii and everywhere in between.

Her favourite places included Nashville and Branson for the music and Reno and Vegas for the gambling and entertainment.

Frances was well known by family and friends for her sprawling garden she kept up even as she approached 90 years of age.

Frances is predeceased by siblings Florence, Dorothy, Tony, Norbert, Eugene, Marcus, Peter, Paul and her twin Frank.

She is lovingly remembered by daughters Debra (Kim) and Lisa, grandchildren Skylar, Dylan,

Jenelle (Aron) and Nathan, and great-granddaughters Cordelia and Ophelia.

Special Thank You to the nurses and staff at the Fort St. John Hospital who kept Frances comfortable during her last days.

A service/celebration of life is being held January 9th, at 2:00 pm at the Fort St. John Legion

following a private interment. Frances is being laid to rest next to her husband Vince so they may dance together in eternity.

Please remember Frances by planting some deep purple (burgundy) wave petunias this spring in her honour.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Royal Canadian Legion here, or to the BC Cancer Foundation here.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frances Katherine (Ollenberger) Richter, please visit our floral store.