Frank Jennings

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on November 15, 2025, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in SeaTac, Wash., for Francis Ray Jennings (Frank). Following a military service, his cremains will be interred at Tacoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

Frank was born to Mathew Franklin and Gladys Alvina Jennings on July 21, 1935, at the family farm in the former townsite of Stilwell, N.D. He attended elementary school in a oneroom country school adjacent to his grandparent's farm. After graduating from Langdon High School in 1953, Frank attended Jamestown College for one year before entering the US Army. He served his time in Austria and Germany as a member of the Army's Adjutant General Corps.

Following his discharge, he enrolled in the School of Agriculture at North Dakota State University. During a summer job in Seattle, he met the love of his life, Sandra Ann Stennes. They were married on June 20, 1958, in Kent Lutheran Church in Kent, Washington.

Following their wedding, they returned to Fargo so that Frank could continue his studies at NDSU. While in Fargo they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Kris. After Frank graduated, they returned to the Puget Sound area where they welcomed their second child, son Terey.

Frank started working at Fisher Mills in Seattle during his summer breaks unloading wheat from box cars, which was a perfect job for a North Dakota farm boy. After his graduation he was offered a position in management. Twenty years later he was the president and CEO of the company. He always claimed that he went from the “box car to the board room.”

After Fisher Mills, Frank spent two years as assistant chief engineer of the Kenworth Division of PACCAR. He then moved on to an officer and director of the Eddie Bauer Company. He joined Eddie Bauer when they had just 12 stores and retired 20 years later when they had grown to 635 stores.

Frank was very devout in his Christian faith and served and expressed his faith throughout his life. He was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for over 60 years. For many years he served as a lay leader of national Lutheran church bodies, the ALC in Minneapolis and the ELCA in Chicago. He was very active in higher education and served as a member and chair of the governing boards of both Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and his alma mater, North Dakota State University. Both universities honored his longtime service with honorary Doctorate degrees. Frank also chaired the governing boards of two Seattle-based senior living communities, as well as the foundation board of American Baptist Homes of the West in California. His lay leadership also included the Wheat Ridge Foundation in Chicago and Lutheran Community Services in Seattle.

Frank and Sandy traveled extensively with visits to all 50 states and several foreign countries. They enjoyed more than 25 winters at their seasonal home in Arizona. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2018 before Sandy went to her eternal rest in November 2018.

Frank was the first-born of his generation of Jennings grandchildren, making him the patriarch of his generation of the family, an honor and obligation he took very seriously. For years he kept in touch with hundreds of relatives and family friends from all aspects of his long life. His shared writings were a bond that connected him to his vast network of family and friends.

In his later years, he enjoyed the love and companionship of Shirley Jean Pederson and her family, who brought so much joy to his life.

Frank is survived by daughter Kris and husband Herb Lowe; son Terey and wife Cheri; granddaughters Jillian (Ross), Lauren (Brandon), Hayley (Justin) and Dana; one great-granddaughter, Zoey, with another great-granddaughter due soon; brother Mark (Shirley), and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sandra Ann; his parents; and an infant sister.

Remembrances can be given to the Prince of Peace Endowment Fund, PLU, NDSU or charities of your choice.