Frank Greff, 72, Dickinson, died Saturday, August 8, 2020 at his home with his wife by his side. Frank’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, August 13, 2020 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Fr. Robert Shea as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Dickinson. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service Dickinson. There will be a private family rosary and vigil with Deacon Al Schwindt presiding.
Frank Xavier Greff was born October 25, 1947 to Simon C. and Salmina “Mae” (Obrigewitsch) Greff in Dickinson the first of five children. Frank graduated from Mott High School in 1965. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy and upon his honorable discharge he worked for Boeing Company in Seattle, Wash. for a short time. In 1968 he returned to his boyhood home in Mott.
Frank married the love of his life, Joyce Marty on November 27, 1968 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dickinson, and raised his family of two daughters, Michelle and Melissa in Dickinson. He worked for the Tempo store in north Dickinson for a short time, then the Dickinson Press for a number of years. In 1989 he transitioned to selling insurance for the Knights of Columbus for 30 years, retiring from that position. Frank proudly received the ND Life Underwriters Agent of the Year Award. He loved his job selling insurance and made many good friends in his career, K of C members could expect a call from Frank when a child or grandchild was born! His advice was indispensable to the clients he served, he still received calls after his retirement, and he was always happy to help.
Family was very important to Frank and he took great pride in his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. In the early years the family did a lot of camping and fishing enjoying the great outdoors. He loved watching old Western Movies, MASH and the Food Channel, and always prided himself in knowing where to buy the best country style sausage around, showing his true German heritage. Friends and family always knew the best weekly grocery deals. Frank loved a good game of Gin Rummy and played whenever he could and could often be found playing Du-Dork with the grandkids, joking the whole time. Throughout his life he was a member of the Dickinson Jaycees, a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, The German Hungarian Club, Eagles Club, North Dakota Life Underwriters Association and a member of St. Wenceslaus Church where he took pride in his faith, and serving as an Usher.
Deeply missed and survived by his loving wife, Joyce of Dickinson; and his daughters, Michelle (Kevin) Ohnstad and grandchildren: Kolton, Jacob, Carson and Jonah of Grand Forks: Melissa (Blaine) Stockert and grandchildren: Savannah and Samuel of Dickinson. Survived by siblings; John (Donna) Greff, Garrison, Anna Mae (Loren) Remmick, Underwood, Minn., Rosie Rubbelke, Bismarck, Ray (Lynn) Greff, Mott; In-laws, Bernie (DuWayne) Schwindt, Bismarck, Kathy (Simon G.) Kuntz, Dickinson, Diane Knutson, Wahpeton, Danny (Sherry) Marty, South Dakota, Colleen Vallejo, Reading, Pa., Colette (Tyrone Sr.) Stallworth, Reading, Pa., and Anita Marty, Alvin, Texas.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Simon C. & Salmina “Mae” Greff; In-laws, Glenn and Anna Marty; and brothers-in-law Wesley Marty and Mark Rubbelke. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Assumption Abbey in Richardton, N.D.
