Frances Empkey

Frances “Fran” Edna (Dahl) Empkey, age 77 of West Fargo, ND passed away of natural causes on June 20th, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN.

She was born to Vernon E. and Harriett E. (Beltman) Dahl on June 8th, 1949, in Valley City, ND and was baptized on August 3rd, 1949, at the Congregational Church of Getchell. As an infant the family moved to a few farms, one north of Valley City, ND, one south of Pillsbury, ND and finally to the family farm just south of Sanborn, ND.

As a young girl, she loved being outside and spending time with the animals on the farm and dearly loved going fishing with her dad. Her early elementary years of school began at the little country school of Hobart #64. She then attended College High Lab school of Valley City State College (University) for 8th – 10th grade where she had many friends, with whom she had lots of fun. She also enjoyed being a cheerleader. In 1965, the family moved to Valley City, where she was a Junior at Valley City High school, graduating in 1967. One of her greatest joys during these years was going out with her school friends on Friday night to a basketball game or having pizza and a coke at the local café. She enjoyed being around other people and helping with vacation bible school, 4-H, and working at the hospital cafeteria after graduation.

In the fall of 1967, she moved to Minot, ND and briefly went to Josef’s School of Beauty. She met Robert O. Empkey, and they were married on June 28th, 1969. They welcomed their daughter, Tamara (Tammie), in December of that year.

As a farm girl, it was always expected that good cooks were born on the farm and Fran was, just like her mom, and she enjoyed cooking and baking all her life. Her favorite recipes were casseroles and desserts. She also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, word searches, jigsaw puzzles, watching high school basketball, and spending time with family and friends, especially her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.

Fran is survived by her daughter Tamara “Tammie” (Chris) Clark; sisters, Alice (George) Kostoff, and Margene (Mario) Vasquez; grandchildren, Anthony “Tony” Waswick, Twyla Waswick, Todd Waswick, and Timothy “Tim” (Kate) Waswick; great-grandchildren, Mara Waswick, Dean Waswick, Kailyn Black, Margaret “Maggie” Waswick, Nora Waswick, Tahlia Waswick, Khira Waswick, and Mason Waswick; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation: Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 9:30 until 10:30 AM at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND.

Memorial Service: Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND.

Interment: Private family interment at a later time at Memory Gardens, Valley City, ND.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

West Fargo, ND

westfuneralhome.com

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