Frances Rapovich

Frances Rapovich

Frances Rapovich, 96, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2016, at Park Health and Rehabilitation Center in St. Louis Park, MN. Amazing grace was found there.

She was born on May 27, 1919, to Joseph and Katherine (Starasinich) Techar in Hibbing, where she lived most of her life. She married George Rapovich on October 15, 1942, and they celebrated 63 years of marriage together.

She excelled in every job she ever held from the O’Neill Hotel in Chisholm, to a potato chip factory in Portland, to being a Rosie Riveter at a Detroit Chrysler plant which aided the war effort. She was the first female foreman there. Eventually she found her chosen profession as a beautician which she worked at for over 40 years.

She took great pleasure and pride in her extended family. She was administrator, advocate and advisor in any situation that called for it.

She loved exercising, especially walking and cross country skiing. She was an excellent cook, especially of ethnic foods, and was particularly focused on carrot bars. Her passion was music and dancing, traveling to her ancestral Yugoslavia, and polka festivals everywhere.

She passes on a lifetime of faith, values and Franisms to her children and grandchildren.

She is survived with great pride and joy by 2 children, Georgette Micheletti of St. Louis Park, MN and Marlene Purkat (John) of Annandale, VA; a sister, Josephine Fryckman of Hibbing; 5 grandchildren, Jennifer Robbins (Erick), Zachary Micheletti (Anne), Tiphanie Purkat (Paul Stefanski), Lacey Lynd (Eric) and Nicholas Purkat (Toni); 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband; sisters Mary Brank and Katherine Adamich; and brothers Frank, Joseph, Rudolph and William Techar.

Visitation will be Tuesday February 2, 2016, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Hibbing, from 10 AM until the 11 AM funeral Mass.  Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing.  To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com .