Frances E. Theis was born on December 18, 1932 in Oakland, Nebraska, to
Patrick and Bernadine Martin. She died on November 19, 2023, in Salem,
Oregon. She was 90 years old.
Fran married the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Theis, on
September 29, 1962 in Denver Colorado. They met during the cathedral club’s
bowling league, and they only knew each other for only six months before
they married. Each of them knowing they had found their soulmate.
The family moved from Denver Colorado, where they welcomed their son Joe
into the family. They moved from there to handful of states, starting their
family’s moves to Salem, Oregon where daughter Kathy was born; Chicago,
Illinois; back to Denver, Colorado again; Shreveport, Louisiana; Apple
Valley, Minnesota; and then back to Salem, Oregon. She was preceded in
death by her husband Richard (Dick) Theis Her son, Joe Theis, who had three
children with his wife Tobie, AJ (Dyer-Theis) Henderson, London Theis and
Eden Theis. She had two lovely great grandchildren. She is survived by her
daughter, Kathy (Theis) Ferder who resides in Salem, Oregon.
Fran passed away peacefully at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by
her two brothers, Leonard Martin and Bob Martin. Fran was one of six
daughters, four of whom preceded her in death: Bernadine McNeil-Smith,
Marian Lamar, Patty Watkins and Lucy Bartson. She was survived by her
sister, JoAnn Dinslage, who resides in Elgin Nebraska.
She was a teacher, she was one of a few bank tellers, who were the very
first to be at the Hines Street MAPS Credit Union, loved to play bridge,
and did so often, she was a silver life master at the Salem Bridge
club. She volunteered often at the Senior Center in Salem.
Fran was stoic and beautiful, she was an amazing wife, mom, grandma,
friend, sister, neighbor ~ she was everything beautiful and is our Guardian
Angel now. It would be her wish for everybody to be happy and enjoy life.
She was at peace before her death, she said “please don’t be sad when I
die, we’ll meet again in Heaven.”
Her interment will be at a later date at the amazingly gorgeous Willamette
National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon to be together again with her
husband, Dick.
A memorial Mass will be held
Tuesday, December 19th, 2023
11:00 AM (PST) at
Queen of Peace Catholic Church
4227 Lone Oak Rd SE
Salem, OR 97302