Francis Mae Kellstrom Passes Away
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Francis Mae Kellstrom passed away Sunday April 6, 2008 at the age of 84. She was born sixth into a family of twelve children in Walnut, Iowa on August 22, 1923. She moved with her family to a farm in Alberta, Canada in 1931.
She was a woman of great character, witty with a delightful sense of humor; she was always ready with a funny story or joke. She loved music and loved to sing. She also memorized poetry and enjoyed reading. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, she enjoyed horses and an occasional trip to Reno.
She had a passion for horses. As a young girl, she had horses in Canada. In the early 1940's, she and her sister Marjorie left Canada for Modesto, CA, where she later met and married Walter Kellstrom. They moved to a ranch in Modesto, Francis realized her dreams of breeding and raising Morgan horses. Her stallion "Dapper Dan'' was nationally recognized. His progeny won awards in shows across the nation. Francis was a highly respected breeder of Morgan horses for over 50 years. She knew each horse she raised by name and personality.
Francis leaves behind her children: Mark KeIIstrom, Noraleen Kellstrom, Matt Kel1strom and Edith Kellstrom; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; one brother Donald Mikkelson, sisters Ruth Brink, Edith Lake, Marilyn Cochran, Myrna Kinsman and Carol Mikkelson. Proceeded in death by her husband Walter, parents Jim and Mabel Mikkelson, brothers George and Paul Mikkelson, sisters Helen Brink, Marjorie Finley and Stel1a McCarthy. Francis will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. She was loved and admired by all that knew her.
Visitation was held Sunday April 13 at Salas Brothers Funeral Chapel, in Modesto.
As seen in the Modesto Bee .
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