Dennis Afrank

Funeral Services for Dennis Afrank, 64 of Baker, Montana will be 10:00am on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the American Lutheran Church with pastors Bruce and Reba Kolasch officiating. Burial will follow in the Boonievale Cemetary in Baker. Visitation will be from 1pm to 9pm, Monday, June 29, 2009 with a Prayer Service starting at 7pm at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker. Visitation will continue on Tuesday one hour prior to the serve at the American Lutheran Church in Baker. Dennis passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at his farm due to a farming accident. Dennis Ray Afrank was born on June 16, 1945 in Baker, Montana the son of Harvey and Dorothy (Schweigert) Afrank. He grew up and attended school graduating from the Baker High school in 1963. Dennis attended one year at MSU in Bozeman before returning to Baker. He began his career in the oil industry with Shell Oil Co. and spent the next 30 years working with them. Dennis was married to Lois Jean Bertsch and to this union three sons were born, Chad, Les and Jer. Dennis retired in 1995 from the oilfield. Along with his work he also enjoyed his farm raising quarter horses and cattle. He loved to see his horses run and took them to many race tracks around the country. He achieved great success with his horses especially with Nancy and Dash. All three boys learned how to handle and train the race horses and also acquired a love of horses as well. After the death of Lois in 1993, Dennis continued to make Baker his home. Dennis was married to Deborah Peters Wolf on December 26, 1998. They owned and operated the Main Street Casino and Grill in Baker for several years. They built and operated the Lakefront Bed and Breakfast and RV Park and have continued to operate it to this day. In recent years they co-owned and operated the Mongolian Grill in Billings, MT with Ken and Lee Manke. Dennis took great pride in the city of Baker and was the first one to help out or help plan any event around. He was elected to the County Commission in the fall of 2004 and has served as a commissioner since. He dearly loved his family and grandchildren and always enjoyed having them around, especially when he could entertain them out in the gazebo and on the lake. Dennis and Deb were known for their hospitality and made many wonderful friends while catering and entertaining throughout the years. Dennis began his second childhood and enjoyed golfing, boating, motorcycling and fishing in the years preceding his death. Survivors include his wife, Deb, Baker, MT; three sons, Chad (Darcy) Afrank, Rapid City, SD, Les (Alisha) Afrank, Baker, MT and Jer (Tina) Afrank, Baker, MT; two step-daughters, Lani Jo (Thad) DeBuhr, Rathdrum, ID and Heather (Tracy) Havens, Coeur d?Alene, ID; a brother, Larry Afrank, Box Elder, SD, and Kenneth (LaNae) Bretzel, Plevna, MT; 12 grandchildren, Austin, Eric, Alex, Ashton, Saraya, Katelynn, Kyler, Karissa, Derik, Brycen, Zachary, Zoey and Noah. Special addition to the family, Jeff, Jackie, Bryten and Tayvia Martin. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey Afrank, his mother, Dorothy Bretzel and Step-father, Albert Bretzel; his first wife, Lois and his sister Edith Schumacher.


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Burial Date: June 30, 2009
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Tuesday, American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT