Frances Yenne Gudgel

Frances Yenne Gudgel went to be with the Lord Tuesday, March 22, 2005, in a very peaceful way. She was 93 on March 16, 2005. Frances was born March 16, 1912, in Creston, Mont. She was the fifth of six children born to Peter and Martha Yenne, pioneers in the Flathead Valley. She is survived by her younger sister Anne Hollinburger, 89 of Creston.

A memorial service was held Thursday, March 31, at 2 p.m. at the Hillside Evangelical Free Church in San Jose, Calif.

In 1934 Frances married John Clinton (Barney) Gudgel of Kalispell. Through their 34 years of marriage they lived in Havre, Mont., Salt Lake City, Utah, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and finally settled in Felton, Calif., in 1945. She was active in Felton Presbyterian Commun-ity Church serving as deaconess, and later, elder. She has been an active member of the P.E.O. sisterhood for over 60 years and worked with the Girl Scout Council, YWCA, PTA, Bible Studies and was an election judge for 43 years in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties.

Upon the death of her husband Barney in 1967 Francis took over the management of the petroleum sales business he had recently started. As President of Preventive Maintenance Company, Inc., she led the company for four years and sold the business in 1971 when she moved to San Jose, Calif., to be near family. She was active at Calvin Presbyterian Church where she served as deaconess.

In addition to her sister Anne, Francis is survived by two children, Jennette Gudgel, St Paul, Minn., and John C. (Jack) Gudgel of San Jose; two granddaughters, Sharon de la Cruz and Julia Moots, both of San Jose; and five great grandchildren: Lauren Moots of San Diego, Wesley Moots, Rachel Moots, Andrea de la Cruz and Alexander de la Cruz of San Jose.

Interment will be with her husband Barney at Oakwood Memorial Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Calif.