Victor Frankenhauser

Mass of Christian Burial for Brother Victor Frankenhauser, OSB, 91, of Richardton will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at Assumption Abbey, Richardton, ND. Burial will take place at the Abbey Cemetery.


Visitation for Brother Victor will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p m. Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at Assumption Abbey, Richardton, ND, with a Vigil Service being held at 7:00 p.m.


Brother Victor passed away Saturday July 16, 2011, at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson, ND.


Bro. Victor (John) Frankenhauser was born in Richardton, ND on February 12, 1920 to Frank and Elizabeth (Hardy) Frankenhauser. He was born into a family of one half brother and three half sisters, and four brothers and one sister. He received his elementary education at St. Mary’s School and high school at Assumption Abbey Prep, both in Richardton, ND. While in high school, he worked in the Abbey kitchen to help pay for his tuition. He entered the novitiate on October 4, 1938 and made his monastic vows on October 14, 1939. In his early years as a monk, he worked in the Print Shop. In 1941, he began to work in the bookbindery, which became his life’s work. He was a master at repairing old and worn out books, making them look like new. From 1941 to 1967, he was sacristan, a job he took care of very diligently. In 1967, he was appointed Guest Master. One of his joys was to give tours of the Abbey to visitors. Bro. Victor did such a wonderful job giving tours that he made countless friends from all over the country. He carried on extensive correspondence with many people. Besides working in the bookbindery, which he continued to do until he no longer was able to do so, he had many other positions other than those mentioned above. He was director of the Visitors Center for several different intervals, telephone coordinator, coordinator of Religious Education at St. Mary’s Parish, Richardton, ND from 1988 to 1991, director of groups and editor of the Assumption Abbey Family Newsletter. During the week before Christmas in 1988, he suffered a heart attack, from which he recovered well. During April and June of 1979 he visited relatives in Europe. He did so again in September and October of 1981. He became assistant guest master on March 1, 1989. He had triple bypass surgery on June 26, 2002. He answered the telephone at night for many years, until he was hospitalized for the last time. As he reached his mid and later 80’s, he began to slow down and began to suffer from osteoporosis in his neck. He became quite bent over. But he always was faithful to the monastic schedule of prayer and Mass. He continued to work as long as possible. His last job, besides answering the phone at night, was to answer the phone during the day from 10:00 to 11:30. Bro. Victor wanted to be a contributor to the community as long as absolutely possible. On the morning of April 19, 2011, he was unable to get out of bed. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson, ND. On April 27, he entered St. Benedict’s Health Center in Dickinson, ND.


He is survived by one brother, Robert (Doreen) Frankenhauser, Auburndale, FL, and by several nieces and nephews and his monastic community.


Burial Date: July 20, 2011
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Wednesday: Assumption Abbey, Richardton, ND