Francies Kay Lane

Francies Kay Lane, age 75, of Menahga, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Sebeka, MN. The funeral service for Fran will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Menahga, MN, with a visitation an hour prior. Wevely Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Fran was born on March 1, 1950, to Frank and Florence (Thotland) Gaulke in Robbinsdale, MN. They had a large farm in Crystal, Minnesota and were a hard-working family. Fran, her parents, and all her siblings worked the farm. Fran attended Adair Elementary School in Robbinsdale, where she shared classes with her future husband, Keith Lane, never thinking that they would someday fall in love and be married. Fran went on to graduate from Robbinsdale High School in 1968, while Keith, who had by that time had moved away, graduated from Cooper High School in Crystal.

The two would reconnect after high school and Fran would marry Keith, the love of her life, on July 14, 1972. When Keith opened his own advertising agency, Fran worked alongside him as his bookkeeper but did many other jobs as well. Much of her work could be done by home and this allowed her the time to raise her daughter.

Fran was liked by all who met her. She was a kind and loving person who always had a smile on her face. She will be missed by all who know and love her.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Keith; a daughter, Kristin (Sean) Shinn; granddaughters, McKenna and Jillene Nixon; brothers, Charles (Marlee), and Mark (Brenda) Gaulke; sisters, Florence (Nels) Larson, and Sandra (Jon) Dolence; a sister-in-law, Cheryl Carter, a brother-in-law, Mike Carter; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Florence and Frank; a grandson, Emanuel Nixon; and a nephew, Jimmy Dolence.