Frances Lokken

Frances Mary Lokken, 93, passed away Sept. 3, 2011, at Spokane's Rockwood South Hill Retirement Community.

She was born in Salt Lake City on March 4, 1918. Her large family grieves her passing but is comforted in the knowledge that she is reunited with beloved family members who have gone on before her.

After graduating from the University of Utah in 1939, Frances began her teaching career in Magna, Utah. During that time, she met and married Brown O. Lokken.

They moved to Tooele, Utah, where their children Bill and Sally were born.

During World War II, Frances taught the children of soldiers at a nearby military base. In 1955, the family relocated to Columbia Falls, where she continued teaching until retirement in 1970. In 1972, Frances and Brown moved to Spokane.

Frances pursued her lifetime passion for education through her 64-year membership in the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an organization which raises money and operates a college for young women. During these years, she was president of her chapters in three states for five terms, of which two of these terms were for the Spokane Chapter GK.

During her 27 years of residence at Rockwood South Hill, she served as their tireless volunteer librarian for 15 years. Frances was devoted to her family and took care of them even through her declining years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Brown O. Lokken; mother and father Anne and George Wigton; daughter-in law Bari Lokken; grandson Christopher Lokken.

Frances is survived by her daughter Sally and husband Dr. Jim Hoppe, of Spokane; son Bill Lokken and wife Maureen, of Huntsville, Ala.; sister Dorothy Haff and husband Buford, of Idaho Falls; grandchildren Tom Hoppe and wife Heather and Suzanne Mulvey and husband Ryan, of Spokane, Ann Marie Turner and husband Joseph, of Pasco, Tricia Hoppe of Portland, Susie Herring and husband Chris and Millie Steber and husband Michael, of Huntsville, Ala., Laurie Reese and husband Bryan, of Bakersfield, Calif., Alice Perrins and husband Nick, of Norcross, Ga., and Christopher Lokken (dec) and wife Meggan, of San Marcos, Calif.; and 19 great grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Rockwood South Hill, in Spokane, on Sept. 8, 2011,

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund, 7701 South Cedar Road, Spokane WA 99224 or the Rockwood Residents Foundation, 2903 East 25th Ave., Spokane WA 99223.