Frankie Harding

Frankie Harding of Surprise, AZ, formerly of Dawson, MN, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2019 in Surprise at the age of 87.

Memorial services will be held Friday, August 30, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Dawson Covenant Church.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church the day of services.

Frankie Jo Tope was born in Anniston, Missouri, April 22, 1932 to Isaac V. and Julia Leigh (Ahlfield) Tope. The Tope’s moved to Prescott, Arizona, when Frankie was 2 years old. She graduated from high school in Prescott in 1950 and moved with a friend to California to find work. She did find work and also found love in Lawrence Harding. She and Larry were married March 8, 1952, in Las Vegas Nevada. With Larry stationed by the Air Force in Alaska, Frankie found work near her sister Betty’s family with the Civil Service. She continued with the Civil Service when the couple moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where Larry was stationed. Their first child, Sandra was born in Florida in 1954.

In 1955 Frankie and Larry moved their family to Dawson and started farming. Their family grew during the farming years when Gary, Paula, Dennis and Kathleen were born. After they decided to sell their farm they started an auto parts business in Dawson where Frankie was both bookkeeper and ‘Parts Man’ as she would proudly tell you. Frankie was in her element while working enjoying the people she worked with, employees, employers and customers alike. She managed Dawson Co-op Credit Union followed by George’s Food-n-Fuel.

In 1990 Frankie and Larry set out on a big adventure, selling their home in Dawson to travel around the country in a motor home. During that time they worked in camp sites as work campers. Eventually they settled in Sunflower Resort, Surprise, Arizona, to really retire. Frankie might have been lonely so far from family but they adopted a little dog, Sadie, to keep her company. Also Frankie was able to spend time with her brothers and sisters she had been so far away from in Minnesota.

Frankie was an avid reader and was active, in earlier years, in the VFW Auxiliary. Frankie loved dogs and her dog Smokey could always bring a smile to her face.

Frankie is survived by her husband, Larry; children: Sandra Harding of Surprise , AZ, Gary and Joyce Harding of Watertown, MN, Paula and Galen Jager of Gary, SD, Dennis and Tina Harding of Dawson, MN Katie and Bob Haney of Olivia, MN; thirteen grandchildren: Susie Harding, Anna Harding, Tina Moyer, Luke Jager, Karla Jo Jager, Kristina Kimmel, Johnathan Kimmel, Gracie Mae Harding, Rebekah Harding, Kade Haney, Sara Anderson, Trevor Haney and Megan Haney; 9 great-grandchildren; Cole, Zachary Dalen, Ivy, Lucy, Jaxon, Samuel, Shelby, Royce; and 2 sisters: Ruth Tenney of Idaho and Betty Arnold of Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: twins at birth, Daphne and Hazel; brothers: Charles, Howard, Finis, George and William; mother and father-in law: Florence and Paul Harding.

May her memory be blessed.