Frank Braun

Frank Albert Joseph Braun was born on April 2, 1929, to Bertha (Veit) and George Braun on the family farm in Osage Bend, Missouri. Growing up during the Great Depression was difficult, but Frank had many fond memories from those years, including hunting and shooting BB guns with his brothers and playing baseball in his uncle’s field. 

Wanting to attend high school, Frank left home to enroll at St. Peter’s High School in Jefferson City, Missouri. He lived with the De La Salle Christian Brothers and worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City before and after school to cover his tuition. After graduating, he attended Jefferson City Junior College and then St. Louis University, where he began pursuing a law degree.

With two brothers serving in the Korean War, Frank also felt called to serve his country. After his second year at SLU, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving from 1952 to 1956. Frank was first stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio, where he trained as an Office of Special Investigations agent. After additional training in Washington, DC, and receiving his Special Agent license, Frank was sent to Tokyo, Japan. While there, he attended Sophia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. His final military assignment was at Malstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. 

Having fallen in love with Montana’s mountains, Frank accepted a job as a clerk with the FBI in Butte. A year later, he resigned to become an insurance adjuster for State Farm, where he worked for 36 years. While living in Butte, he went on a blind date with a schoolteacher from Anaconda, Evelyn Petrini. Six months later, they married on June 6, 1959, at the Cathedral of St. Helena, in Helena. 

Frank and Evelyn lived in Butte, Denver, and Pocatello, Idaho, before settling in Billings in 1961. Their early years were devoted to raising their four daughters—Janet, Jacque, Julie, and Christi—and enjoying the Montana outdoors, through hunting, fishing, camping, and skiing. Holidays were spent with Evelyn’s family in Helena or Great Falls or at Canyon Ferry Lake. Every other summer, they visited Frank’s family in Missouri. 

A devout Catholic, Frank was a founding parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle. He served on the parish council, including a term as parish council president, participated on the building committee for the new church, and was the active coordinator for Word and Communion at St. John’s United for over 40 years. Frank was also a Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus and twice served as the Grand Knight for Council 1259. 

In 1969, Frank made a Cursillo and became active in the Cursillo Movement, receiving a Baptism in the Holy Spirit in 1973. For many years, he met with his Cursillo group for Mass and breakfast on Saturday mornings. Seeking further fellowship, Frank became active in Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, serving both as a local leader and participating nationally, through annual conventions. In the early 2000s, he became active in ACT Heals. 

Frank was known for his dedication to religious study and writing. In 1975, he became active with the Adult Christian Education Society, which brought professors from Gonzaga University to Billings and allowed participants to earn college credits. Through this program, Frank earned a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies in 1985. His thesis laid the foundation for his calling to write a book on the evolution and cognitive system of humanity, with the concentration on the Holy Spirit. His published works include the books, “The Spirt and Me: In Ministry the Greater Call” and “Lord, Teach Me to Pray”, and three papers, “The Unruly Spirit,” “The Ego, Superego and Id,” and “The Evolution of the Human Soul and Cognitive System.”  

Frank passed away on January 20 after a long, full, and well-lived life. He is survived by daughters, Janet Braun (Charles Lasnier), Jacquelyn (Michael) Ayers, Julie (William) Tupper, and Christi Braun (Alex Crooke); grandchildren Guinevere Ayers (Jackson Barthel), Benjamin Hickman, Genevieve Ayers, Alexander Tupper, and Christopher Tupper; and great-granddaughter Rennella Barthel. He is also survived by his brothers William “Bill,” David, and Kenny Braun, and his sister Mary Pat (Eugene) Luebbering. He was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn; sister Guinevere Gevecker; brothers George and Roger Braun; and his parents.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Vista at Mission Ridge, St. John’s Hospice, and special family friend, Ethel, who watched over Frank during his years at Mission Ridge and The Vista.

A Rosary Service will be held at 6:45 pm on Monday, February 2, 2026 with a Vigil Service following at 7:00 pm at Dahl Funeral Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Following a luncheon, a Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 pm at Holy Cross Cemetery. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at https://boxcast.tv/view/frank-brauns-funeral-mass-z5xbo5dpq0uvuew8zbxi