Francis Breidenbach

Francis Anthony Breidenbach, 85, of Whitefish, passed away peacefully Jan. 7 surrounded by loving family members after a very short illness.

Francis was born in Oakes, N.D., on May 12, 1930, the oldest of four sons of Elizabeth and Ted Breidenbach. After graduating from Oakes High School in 1947, his college career at University of North Dakota was twice interrupted by one-year terms of service in the U.S. Army; first in 1948-49 and then again as an Infantry Platoon Leader in Korea during the Korean War 1952-53.

Francis received his bachelor of philosophy degree from UND in 1952. His juris doctorate degree was awarded by UND in 1957. As an undergraduate at UND he was a two-way player for the 1950 and 1951 Fighting Sioux football teams. He was an All North Central Conference honorable mention selection at linebacker in 1950. In 1951 he was selected all-conference, first team, at offensive guard. In 1982 he was inducted into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame.

Francis first developed an interest in law when he was assigned to defend soldiers in special court martial cases in Korea. While in law school at UND he was published in a national law journal and served as editor-in-chief of the North Dakota Law Review. After receiving his J.D. in 1957, he joined the Attorney General’s office in Bismarck, N.D., where he remained until near the end of 1960. After three years of private practice in Bismarck, he moved to Los Angeles in 1963 and joined Cummins, White and Breidenbach.

By 1978 Francis was the senior partner at the firm, which was then known as Breidenbach, Swainston and Way. Through several name changes (including Breidenbach, Swainston, Crispo and Way; Breidenbach, Buckley, Huchting, Halm and Hamblet) he remained with the same firm until his retirement in 1999. At its peak, the firm reached 54 attorneys with its main office in downtown Los Angeles and branch offices in Orange and Riverside counties.

The firm’s work centered mostly around civil litigation. Francis had a passion for trying cases in front of a jury. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a rank which requires a minimum of 100 jury trials. He is a former president of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. Among his many accolades and awards, in 1984 he was one of nine lawyers from across the nation nominated as Trial Lawyer of the Year “by taking and winning a cutting-edge case which has had and will have significant impact for the public good.”

In 1971 Francis and his family moved from Los Angeles to Hermosa Beach, where they resided until 1999. He was an avid sports fan, coaching his children and attending sporting events, including innumerable Dodger games. Francis enjoyed many hobbies over the years, which included; horse racing, photography, golf, hunting, fishing, classical music, opera and theatre. Sailing was another passion, with countless adventures traveling the islands of southern California and elsewhere around the world.

He first began spending time in Whitefish in 1977 and moved here full-time upon his retirement in 1999. Francis was an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction his entire life. He never lost his love for research and spent many of his retirement years writing op-ed pieces for the local newspapers. He also volunteered with CASA of Montana.

Francis is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, the former Carol Erenfeld, whom he met at UND and married in 1955. Together they have three children, Fritz (wife Susan) of Los Angeles; Kelly Elliott (husband Andy) of Covington, La.; Andy (wife Cheryl) of Issaquah, Wash. They have 10 grandchildren; six from Fritz and Susan (Andrew, Francis, Nicholas, Patrick, Noelle and Justin); three from Kelly and Andy (Henry, Harrison and Patrick); and one from Andy and Cheryl (Sara). As well, they recently received their first great-granddaughter (Layla) from Noelle and Bradin.

Francis was the oldest of four boys. His brother Joel (wife Anita) of Fort Collins, Colo., pre-deceased him by two days (Jan. 5, 2016); Mike (wife Pam) of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Steve (wife Cherie) Rancho Bernardo, Calif.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m., at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Whitefish. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to the North Valley Food Bank, 251 Flathead Avenue, Whitefish, MT 59937.