Frances "Fran" (Molitor) Winters

Frances M. “Fran” (Molitor) Winters, age 84 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at Country Manor Nursing Home in Sartell, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 17 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Rick Aubol officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Frances Marie Brinkman was born April 20, 1937 at Farming, Minnesota to John and Veronica (Gertken) Brinkman. On September 30, 1958 she married Ambrose Molitor. He passed away August 16, 1994. She married Rollo “Hoppy” Cassady on July 23, 1999. Only three months into their marriage, Hoppy died suddenly on November 2, 1999. During these years, Fran worked at St. Michael’s Hospital for a total of 26 years in the kitchen ending her career as the dietary manager. She retired in 1998. On October 12, 2006 she married Elmer “Bud” Winters in Glenwood. Bud passed away July 20, 2018.

Fran was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, Christian Mothers, and the St. Michael Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed spending time with her family and playing with her grandchildren. She also loved embroidering, quilting, fishing, and playing cards.  She had a gift of hospitality and enjoyed cooking and baking for those that stopped by.

Survivors include Ambrose and Fran’s son, Ron (Shirley) Molitor of Alexandria and their children, Hannah (Eric) Surma, Isaac (Jocelyn) Molitor, and Joshua (Sarah) Molitor; daughter, Diane (David) Gustafson of St. Cloud and their children, Angela (Matthew) Asmus, Megan (Patrick) Piepkorn, and Chad (fiancé, Paige Verkinnes) Gustafson; eight great grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Lorraine (Don) Jungles of Cold Spring, Cora (Lyle) Dougherty of Vancouver, WA, Werner (Donna) Brinkman of St. Augusta, Melvin  Brinkman of Rogers, David (Janet) Brinkman of Paynesville, Diane (Dennis) Heying of Richmond, Judy Klehr of Richmond, Doris (Michael) Parenteau of Maple Grove, and Sandy (Marc) Booth of St. Croix Falls, WI; sisters-in-law, Sharon Brinkman of Avon and Mary Brinkman of Albany.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands; three infant sons; brothers, Ralph and Kenneth Brinkman; sister, Alvina Mies; brothers-in-law, Tony Mies and Delbert Klehr; and sister-in-law, Gayle Brinkman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Alzheimer’s Association at www.act.alz.org.