Fran Silha, 83 of Bowman, ND died on Friday, January 07, 2011 at the Southwest Healthcare Hospital in Bowman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, January 10, 2011 at the St. Charles Catholic Church in Bowman beginning at 11:00 a.m. Fr. Charles Zins will officiate with burial to follow in the St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in Bowman. There will be a Rosary and Scripture Service on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at the St. Charles Catholic Church beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Frances (Fran) M. Silha was born the fourth child to John M. and Olida (Reiersgard) Susag on July 11, 1927, at the family farm. She attended Nebo School and graduated from the 8th grade in 1940. She went to Bowman High School and graduated in 1944. She spent the summer of 1944 in Miles City, MT, going to telegraphy school. She returned to Bowman and worked for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad from October 1944 to January of 1947. She worked in Bowman, McIntosh, McLaughlin, Lemon, Hettinger, Rhame and Walker. At the time she left the railroad, her hourly wage was $1.12.
On January 8, 1947, she was united in marriage to F. Russel Silha at St. Charles Catholic rectory. They had five children: Randal (Cheryl), Mindoro, WI; Logan (Diana), on the ranch; Roxanne (Eddie) Holecek, Rhame, ND; L. Nada (Dale) Carter, Starbuck, MN; and Myrna (Alex) Friedt, Carrington, ND. Fran and Russ lived and ranched the Silha homestead their entire lives.
Fran was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, St. Charles Catholic Daughters and the Guild. Her hobbies included solitaire, jigsaw puzzles and reading.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russ; two brothers, Eddie Susag and Millins Susag; her parents; seven brothers-in-law, Elmer Silha; Tom Whittet; Reuben Arlt; Earl Silha; Lloyd Kumm; Art Heinz; and Vernon Silha; four sisters-in-law, Anne Susag; Elsie Whittet Heinz; Agnes Silha; and Verna Silha.
Fran is survived by her five children, fifteen grandchildren: Denver Silha, Bismarck, ND; Tressa (Jason) Dodge, Bowman, ND; Nevada Silha, Bismarck, ND; Megan (Brad) Hlebechuk, Bowman, ND; Tony (Teena) Holecek, Westby, MT; Payco (Jennifer) Holecek, Rhame, ND; Quincy, Levi, Brady, Kyerra, and Zach Carter, Starbuck, MN; and Sage, Savanna, Sydney and Sierra Friedt, Carrington, ND; eight great grandchildren: Daulton and Darian Holecek, Westby, MT; Camden Silha, Bismarck, ND; Cheyenne and Suttyn Dodge, Bowman, ND; Emersyn and Hadyn Hlebechuk, Bowman, ND; and Fiona Holecek, Rhame, ND; three sisters, Jeanette (Stan) Heupel, Aberdeen, SD; Goldie (Myron) Schaaf, Bowman, ND; and Delores (Harold) Schuh, Bowman, ND; three sisters-in-law, Lucille (Babe) Kumm, Coon Valley, WI; Elaine (Corky) Silha, Bowman, ND; and Peggy Boyce, Rhame, ND; and many nieces and nephews.