Frank Zillich

Funeral Mass for Frank Zillich, 98, of Taylor will be 9:30 am Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Richardton with Father Thomas Wordekemper, OSB celebrating. Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Visitation for Frank will be 4:00 – 7:00 pm Monday, April 14, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson with a Rosary and Vigil beginning at 6:00 pm.

Frank passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at St. Luke’s Home in Dickinson.

Frank was born on August 10, 1926 in Gladstone, North Dakota to Peter and Mary Zillich. He grew up on farms around Gladstone. He joined the US Navy and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan during the last years of WWII. When he came home he worked as a mechanic for Albert Helgeson in Taylor and then bought the business. He and his brother, John, were Massey dealers for many years. He also owned Frank’s Auto and Tractor Repair, where many vehicles and farm implements were kept running with Frank’s expertise. He later took over farming for Grandpa Meyer on the Pfiefer land. Being out in the field was his happy place. He also loved hunting and fishing with family and friends. We appreciate everyone in Taylor who took him out fishing, especially in his later years. He enjoyed his winter trips to Devils Lake to go ice fishing with Kevin and Keith Charbonneau.

Frank married Jenny Meyer in 1952 and they had two children, Deborah and Randy. They had a love affair that lasted 57 years, with Frank being Jenny’s faithful caregiver during her many cancer battles, until her passing in 2009. He also transferred his love of farming to take over her garden, and he loved growing and sharing produce with his neighbors.

Frank was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church, VFW, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Lions, and Elks. He was the griddle master and expert pancake flipper for many VFW community breakfasts. He was a volunteer firefighter, serving as chief for many years in Taylor. He was recently inducted in the ND Firefighters Hall of Fame.

Frank is survived by his children, Deb and Randy (Carla); grandchildren, Jessica (Brandon) Deavy, Taylor, Maggi, Kristen (Aaron) Radtke, Ashlie, and Jaxen; one sister-in-law, Vi Meyer; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jenny; parents, Peter Zillich and Mary and Matt Dorner; brothers, Nick and John (Margie), as well as John, Peter, and Anton, all lost in childhood; sisters, Katherine Texley and her son Gary, and Rose (Marlin) Luff and their son, Daryl; Deb’s soulmate, Kevin Charbonneau; in-laws, Ed (Pat) Meyer, Adeline (John) McKenna and their daughter Anita, Liz (Peter) Gasch and their daughter Sandy, Ray Meyer, and their parents, John and Margaret Meyer.

The family thanks the caregivers at Edgewood Hawks Point and Cornerstone Caregiving for the loving care they gave to Frank. They’d also like to thank the staff at St. Luke’s, who watched over him in his final week. We extend a special thanks to Christa, Donna, and Erin at CHI Health at Home for the hospice care they provided at Hawks Point and St. Luke’s. We are eternally grateful. We also thank our family and all the wonderful friends in Taylor for the love and support they provided while he spent the first months of his illness at home, and later visiting him in Dickinson. A special thanks goes out to Jim Wolf, who helped take care of Frank in Taylor, and helped with the around the clock shifts in his last weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to St. Thomas Cemetery Association, the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, or a charity of your choice.