Wilbert Frank

Wilbert Frank, 94, of Chinook, Montana passed away Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre, Montana.

Wilbert was born June 27, 1931, to Henry and Effie (Herdt) Frank in Hawk Springs, Wyoming. He was the oldest of seven children. He graduated from Sunflower High School in Scotts Bluff County Nebraska in 1949, the only boy in a class of seven. He served on active duty in the United States Army for two years from 1952 to 1954, including a tour of duty in Germany.

He married JoAnn Jennings on June 1, 1956, at the First Baptist Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Daughter Cynthia was born in 1958, and son Joel was born in 1960.

Wilbert farmed in the North Platte Valley of Nebraska until 1968, then he began ranching south of Crawford, Nebraska. Although he grew up farming, ranching and being a cowboy were in his blood. He started breaking colts for neighbors at a young age and would sneak off to rodeo in high school. After moving to Crawford, nothing made him happier than saddling up at 4:00 a.m. and trotting off to help neighbors brand or trail cows to summer pasture. In 1976 they moved to Pony, Montana, then back to the Sandhills of Nebraska until 1981, when they moved back to Montana where he worked for Castle Mountain. While working at Castle Mountain, the other cowboys found out that Nebraska cowboys and horses were not afraid to hit the timber at a dead run to turn escaping cows. From there he worked for Cowan and Son until 1990. He worked at Glasgow Livestock and other ranches in Montana until 1997. Then made a final move Chinook, where he and JoAnn enjoyed watching their grandchildren grow up. He worked part-time for S-B Ranch until 2010, when he fully retired. He enjoyed gardening and tending to his flowers, which he liked sharing with friends and family. He loved to sit on his front porch and soak up the sun while listening to the kids having fun at the pool.

He is survived by his daughter Cindy (Eric) Stone of Idaho Falls, Idaho, his son Joel (Valerie) of Chinook, two grandchildren, Jessica (Lewis) Heil of Bigfork, Montana and Joshua (Amanda) Frank of Chinook, two great-grandchildren, Eli and Eva Heil, brother Raymond (Trudy) Frank of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and sister Charlotte Frank of Lincoln, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his brothers Henry "Verne", Donald and Jerry, and his sister Elnora Heinrich.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation, PO Box 785, Chinook, MT 59523, or a charity of your choice.