Francis Bratager

Francis Bratager, 89 of Lake Havasu City and formerly of the Bristol area died on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Graveside services will be at 10:30 A.M. Monday, May 23, 2016 at Bergen Lutheran Cemetery near Bristol, Rev. Jan FitzGibbon will officiate. Military rites will be provided by Herbert McKennett Post 40 American Legion. LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ- Francis Bratager, 89 of Lake Havasu City and formerly of the Bristol area died on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Graveside services will be at 10:30 A.M. Monday, May 23, 2016 at Bergen Lutheran Cemetery near Bristol, Rev. Jan FitzGibbon will officiate. Military rites will be provided by Herbert McKennett Post 40 American Legion. Fiksdal Funeral Service of Webster is in charge of the arrangements. Fiksdalfuneral.com. Francis Duane Bratager was born on March 26, 1927 to Alden and Bertha (Erickson) Bratager near Bristol, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Bergen Lutheran Church. He was raised on a farm on Highway 12 just north of the Butler Bridge. He attended country school near his home. After he received his education he joined the U.S. Army. After he was discharged he returned home briefly to join his family in farming. However, he decided to rejoin the U.S. Army and made it his lifelong career. He married Myrna Johnson and to this union three children were born, Deneise, Durene and Duania. He served during the Korean War and did two tours during the Vietnam War. In 1964 he married his second wife, Grace Somerville and the couple raised his children and her daughter, Carol. They lived on several bases during that time. During his military career he served in Austria, Hawaii, Japan and Germany. In 1974 he retired from active duty from Fort Wainwright at Fairbanks, Alaska at the rank of Mess Sergeant with chef credentials. In retirement the couple lived in North Pole, Alaska, Florida, Kalispell, Montana before moving to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He loved to talk and tell stories and would reminisce about the past in great detail. He loved facts about cars and old tractors as well as telling stories about the army, particularly how he would trade and barter to get better food for his troops. A phone call or conversation with Francis was never brief. In fact, his son-in-law recalls a recent phone conversation that last almost five hours! Francis passed away on Wednesday, May 11,2016 at Lake Havasu City, Arizona at the age of 89 years, 1 month and 15 days. Survivors include his wife, Grace of Lake Havasu City, AZ; daughters, Deneise Bratager of Bryan, TX, Durene (Neil) Silke of Pigeon, MI ; six grandchildren, DeeDee Irick, Duane Morgan, Daniel Morgan, Jason Fredregill, Joshua (Jackie) Fredregill, and Tracy (Brian) Morsching; eight great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, ex-wife, two daughters, Duania and Carol, two brothers, and two sisters.